'He lies as we breathe': Mehdi Hasan trashes Trump's claim of American's not against the war

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that Americans weren't opposed to the war in Iran, arguing that it was the rising costs and gas prices that pushed people to express anger over the conflict. While the president claimed he got the information from a "new poll," his claims drew sharp reactions, with British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan slamming Trump for lying through his teeth.

Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters before flying to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for a dignified transfer ceremony honouring the four U.S. service members who were killed in the conflict. "Americans aren't against the war," Trump claimed. "A poll just came out, Americans don't want high gasoline prices, but they're not against the war," he added. His comments came despite several recent polls showing that the war is highly unpopular among Americans. "He lies as the rest of us breathe. This is the most unpopular war for decades, per almost every poll," Hasan scoffed, sharing the clip of the president's remarks.

Trump seemingly pointed to a Politico poll released Wednesday, which asked voters if the war should continue even if it increases costs. In the poll, 50% of Trump voters supported the war even if it increased prices, up from the 37% of respondents who said the same in May. However, the poll found that 1 in 5 MAGA voters say the U.S. should end the war regardless of the costs. The low support from even the President's most loyal supporters marked a clear sign that Americans' patience is wearing thin as the economy continues to be the top concern of the people, the publication reported. 

Furthermore, a new Washington Post-Ipsos poll last week presented a dismal historical comparison for the Iran war that started in late February. The survey found a whopping 68% of Americans said the Iran war was not "worth fighting," while just 28% believed it was. That negative 40-point split was worse than either the Iraq or Afghanistan wars in Washington Post-ABC News polling. The worst numbers for the Afghanistan war were about a 67-28% split in 2013, nearly 12 years into it. And, the Iraq war witnessed a 66-34% split in its worst poll in 2007, but the percentage of Americans who felt it was worth fighting never dipped below 33%. 

Meanwhile, Trump and his administration have given little to no indication of the war ending quickly. On Wednesday, the U.S. military launched more airstrikes for the 12th consecutive day as Iran hit back against U.S. military targets in the Gulf and Jordan. The renewed fighting has overshadowed the diplomatic efforts that led to the signing of the interim deal between the two sides, under which a framework was to be decided to end the war peacefully. However, now the attempts to potentially revive a collapsed ceasefire have seemingly failed. This also comes at a time when the Trump administration is seeking billions of dollars in additional funding from Congress, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday telling lawmakers that the estimated cost of the war had increased to $37.5 billion.