House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) acknowledged Wednesday that the ongoing conflict with Iran has put a drag on Republican efforts to improve affordability for American families, even as he defended President Trump's commitment to voters' financial well-being.
Speaking at a press conference, Johnson addressed Trump's comments from the previous day, when the president told reporters that Americans' financial situations were not motivating him “even a little bit” to strike a deal with Tehran. Instead, Trump said his primary concern was preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Johnson sought to clarify the remarks, saying he speaks with Trump multiple times daily and that the president is deeply focused on economic matters. “I don’t know the context in which he made that comment, but I can tell you the president thinks about Americans’ financial situations,” Johnson said.
The speaker argued that resolving the Iran crisis is key to easing economic pressures, particularly at the gas pump. Iran’s blockade of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz has driven average gasoline prices above $4.50 per gallon nationwide, according to AAA. That spike contributed to inflation jumping to 3.8 percent in April, the highest in three years, per Labor Department data released Tuesday.
“We’ve done everything — the Republican Party, under President Trump’s leadership — have done everything that we possibly can to reverse the maddening inflation of the Biden years,” Johnson said. “And we’ve done that in the Big Beautiful Bill, the Working Families Tax Cut, infused with pro-growth policies.”
He added: “The conflict with Iran has put a little damper on that. Now, as soon as that’s resolved, I agree with the Treasury Secretary, I agree with the president, you’re going to have an alleviation of the pain at the pump, and you’re going to have prices come down overall.”
A recent poll found that 77% of Americans say Trump's policies raised living costs, with many blaming the Iran war. The administration is now banking on diplomacy with Beijing to help end the standoff. Trump is currently in Beijing for a critical summit with President Xi Jinping, where Iran and trade tensions are expected to dominate the agenda.
Johnson’s comments come as Republicans try to balance national security priorities with voter anger over rising prices. The party’s legislative agenda, including tax cuts and deregulation, has been overshadowed by the conflict’s economic fallout.
