Trump says he’s not thinking about Americans’ finances ‘even a little bit’ in Iran talks

Iran warTrump says he’s not thinking about Americans’ finances ‘even a little bit’ in Iran talksTrump said the “only thing” that matters is Iran “can’t have a nuclear weapon.” Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleTrump says he doesn't think about Americans' financial situation during Iran negotiations 00:28Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 12, 2026, 3:33 PM EDTBy Allan SmithPresident Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he is not weighing the economic burden of the Iran war on everyday Americans when negotiating a deal with the country’s leadership.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Speaking on the White House South Lawn before departing for a diplomatic trip to China, Trump was asked to what extent “Americans’ financial situations” were motivating him to make a deal with Iran.“Not even a little bit,” Trump replied. “The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran — they can’t have a nuclear weapon. 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.”A reporter followed up on whether he really wasn’t thinking about the economic impact of the war. “The most important thing by far — including whether our stock market, which, by the way, is at an all-time high — but including whether our stock market goes up or down a little bit, the most important thing by far is Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” “Every American understands,” he added.Since the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran in late February, Iran has blocked access to the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply typically transits every day.As a result, gas prices in the U.S. have spiked. The national average price of regular unleaded gas stood at $4.50 per gallon on Tuesday, while diesel fuel was $5.64 per gallon,...