Trump: Stopping Iran's nuclear program outweighs Americans' financial situation

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Americans’ financial struggles are not influencing his decisions as he seeks to negotiate an end to the war in Iran. He emphasized that preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remains his top priority.

When asked by a reporter whether Americans’ financial situations were motivating him to strike a deal, Trump replied, “Not even a little bit.”

“The only thing that matters, when I’m talking about Iran, is that they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said before departing the White House for a trip to China. “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all. That’s the only thing that motivates me.”

Trump’s remarks are expected to draw scrutiny from critics who argue that the administration should balance geopolitical objectives with the economic impact on Americans, especially as cost-of-living concerns remain a major issue for voters ahead of the November midterm elections.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the president’s position, stating that Trump’s “ultimate responsibility is the safety and security of Americans. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if action wasn’t taken, they’d have one, which threatens all Americans.”

Trump is facing increasing pressure from fellow Republicans, who worry that economic hardships caused by the war could trigger a backlash against the party and potentially cost it control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in November.

Rising energy costs linked to the Iran conflict have contributed to higher gasoline prices and inflation. U.S. consumer inflation in April posted its largest increase in three years, according to data released Tuesday.

Trump framed his approach as a matter of national and global security, suggesting that economic concerns are secondary to preventing nuclear proliferation.

U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that the timeline for Iran to build a nuclear weapon has not significantly changed since last summer, when analysts estimated that a potential U.S.-Israeli attack had extended the timeline to nine months to a year. These assessments remain broadly unchanged even after two months of conflict, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Trump’s allies have supported his stance, arguing that the risks of a nuclear-armed Iran outweigh short-term economic difficulties.

Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons, insisting its program is for peaceful purposes, though Western powers suspect it aims to develop the capability to build a bomb.

-Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by Ross Colvin and Cynthia Osterman/Reuters