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While meeting with the Prime Minister in the Oval Office today, the president said he expects Japan to step up to help police the Strait of Hormuz, but so far the country has not made such *** commitment. This is all part of the president’s effort to pressure allies to help alleviate what has become *** global economic crisis. Still, the president insists no US boots will be on the ground. No, I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you. But I’m not putting troops escalating attacks against oil infrastructure in the Middle East. Iran hitting energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait in response to Israel hitting Iran’s oil fields. The president says he told Israel’s prime minister to stop those attacks on energy. I did. I told him don’t do that. The latest strike is sending oil prices surging. The president says countries like Japan, which rely on the region for energy, should be the ones policing the Strait of Hormuz, not the United States. The US gets very little oil from the Strait, but oil is *** global market, and those disruptions are pushing gas prices on average $1 higher compared to *** month ago for *** gallon of gas, according to AAA. But the president is downplaying the economic impact. Oil prices will go up. The economy will go down *** little bit. I thought it would be worse, much worse actually. I thought there was *** chance it could be much worse. It’s not bad and it’s going to be over with pretty soon. And the White House is pulling several levers now to try and lower oil and gas prices. The latest consideration lifting sanctions on Iranian oil at the White House, I’m Christopher Sales.
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‘I thought it would be worse’: President Trump downplays economic impact of Iran war
As oil prices climbed, President Trump sought to minimize the broader economic fallout from the war, saying, “I thought it would be worse, much worse actually. It’s not bad.”
President Donald Trump is downplaying the broader economic impact of the war after Iran intensified its attacks on oil facilities in the Middle East, targeting key energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, and sending oil prices sharply higher Thursday.”I thought it would be worse, much worse actually. It’s not bad. And it’s going to be over with pretty soon,” Trump said.Despite the U.S. receiving minimal oil from the Strait of Hormuz, the disruptions have impacted the global market, causing the nationwide average price for a gallon of regular gas to rise nearly a dollar compared to a month ago, according to AAA.At the White House, where Trump was hosting Japan’s prime minister, the president pressed allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.”I expect Japan to step up because, you know, we have that kind of relationship and we step up for Japan. We don’t need much. We don’t need anything,” Trump said. “I mean, honestly, we don’t need anything from Japan or from anyone else. But I think it’s appropriate that people step up.”The president has emphasized that countries like Japan, which heavily rely on the region for energy, should take responsibility for policing the strait. Trump has been pressing allies to send warships to the region.On Thursday, Japan joined the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Canada in a joint statement condemning Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels and energy infrastructure and expressing readiness to contribute to efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.Video below: Why are oil and gas prices spiking?”We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,” the statement read.The president was also asked if he’s considering putting U.S. troops in the region to help free up the strait.”No, I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you, but I’m not putting troops,” Trump said in response to a reporter’s question in the White House.The White House is exploring various strategies to reduce oil and gas prices, including the possible removal of sanctions on Iranian oil stranded on tankers at sea, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.Meanwhile, the Pentagon has asked the White House to approve a request to Congress for more than $200 billion to fund the war effort. Trump said, “We’re asking for a lot of reasons, beyond even what we’re talking about in Iran. This is a very volatile world,” adding, “It’s a small price to pay to make sure we stay tippy top.”
President Donald Trump is downplaying the broader economic impact of the war after Iran intensified its attacks on oil facilities in the Middle East, targeting key energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, and sending oil prices sharply higher Thursday.
“I thought it would be worse, much worse actually. It’s not bad. And it’s going to be over with pretty soon,” Trump said.
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Despite the U.S. receiving minimal oil from the Strait of Hormuz, the disruptions have impacted the global market, causing the nationwide average price for a gallon of regular gas to rise nearly a dollar compared to a month ago, according to AAA.
At the White House, where Trump was hosting Japan’s prime minister, the president pressed allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
“I expect Japan to step up because, you know, we have that kind of relationship and we step up for Japan. We don’t need much. We don’t need anything,” Trump said. “I mean, honestly, we don’t need anything from Japan or from anyone else. But I think it’s appropriate that people step up.”
The president has emphasized that countries like Japan, which heavily rely on the region for energy, should take responsibility for policing the strait. Trump has been pressing allies to send warships to the region.
On Thursday, Japan joined the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Canada in a joint statement condemning Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels and energy infrastructure and expressing readiness to contribute to efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Video below: Why are oil and gas prices spiking?
“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,” the statement read.
The president was also asked if he’s considering putting U.S. troops in the region to help free up the strait.
“No, I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you, but I’m not putting troops,” Trump said in response to a reporter’s question in the White House.
The White House is exploring various strategies to reduce oil and gas prices, including the possible removal of sanctions on Iranian oil stranded on tankers at sea, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has asked the White House to approve a request to Congress for more than $200 billion to fund the war effort. Trump said, “We’re asking for a lot of reasons, beyond even what we’re talking about in Iran. This is a very volatile world,” adding, “It’s a small price to pay to make sure we stay tippy top.”
