Rep. Thanedar accuses Trump of harboring 'absolute disdain' for Americans amid soaring gas prices
It is no secret that the average cost of gasoline across the United States has been the highest since 2022 at $4.5 per gallon, and the adverse impact of these prices on working-class Americans is of no concern to President Donald Trump, Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) said in a post on X.
He argued that Trump's apparent lack of hesitation in making controversial decisions, which directly raise the cost of daily essentials, is due to his perceived disregard for "regular Americans."
Trump keeps claiming that the conflict in Iran is almost over… in reality, the Strait remains closed, gas prices are up, and we’re still deep in this forever war.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) May 11, 2026
The man that ran on lowering costs and ending wars is 0/2.
Thanedar's comments come in the wake of Trump's interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News to discuss his recently concluded two-day state visit to China. This was the first interview Trump gave following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The President revealed that he refrains from bragging about profits emanating from America's blockade of Iran. "People are finding other places to buy oil, like Texas. I don't want to say we're making a fortune. Oh, he forgets about the little man with $4 gas," Trump told Hannity
Thanedar's statement carries significant political weight as it captures the ongoing tussle between Democrats and the Trump administration over inflation and the cost of living. The crisis, specifically gas prices, is likely to dominate the discourse among voters heading into the midterms in November. The Michigan lawmaker attempted to establish a direct link between Trump's policies and Americans' economic hardship.
Between the Trump Tariff Tax and Trump's war in Iran, working Americans are paying more just to buy gas and groceries. pic.twitter.com/6LZ4Wv3L5M
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) May 16, 2026
This is not the first time that Trump has reportedly projected indifference when asked about the suffering of people reeling from a cost-of-living crisis, further exacerbated by the Iran war. He recently posted that the rising oil prices are a small price to pay for "safety" and "peace". The President has also been asserting repeatedly that the gas prices are not that high and they will drop quickly once the war comes to an end.
In a Fox News interview after his summit in Beijing, U.S. President Trump made a series of claims about the war on Iran. Here is what he said, and how it holds up:
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) May 16, 2026
1. On Removing Enriched Uranium
➤ “I don’t think it’s necessary except from a public relations standpoint. I think… https://t.co/IEq69EPyWD pic.twitter.com/9P9sTSwhSu
As for a solution to the Iran crisis, there is no clarity on whether Washington and Tehran are close to a peace deal. There has been a constant back and forth between the two nations over the terms of the deal. While the U.S. wants Iran's nuclear program to be a major point on the negotiating table, Iran has said that it wants negotiations to only center around bringing the war to an end and opening the Strait of Hormuz.
