Former Vice President Mike Pence doubled down on the Trump administration's military campaign against Iran, declaring on Sunday that the conflict “had to happen” as it entered its second month.
In an interview on Fox News's “One Nation,” Pence told host Brian Kilmeade that the operation was a long-overdue response to decades of Iranian aggression. “It had to happen. Iran has been at war with America and our most cherished ally, Israel, for 47 years,” Pence said. He pointed to attacks on U.S. service members dating back to the Marine Corps barracks bombing and through the Iraq War, carried out by Iranian proxies.
The former vice president's remarks come as public sentiment turns sharply against the conflict. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that 61 percent of Americans believe the Trump administration was wrong to launch the military operation against Iran in late February. The political pressure is mounting as the economic toll becomes clearer.
The Iranian military has effectively throttled shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies. That disruption has sent gasoline prices soaring. According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. hit $4.46 on Monday, up sharply from $3.17 a year ago. The broader economic fallout is already rippling through other sectors, including housing.
President Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to announce a new initiative to free ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz. “For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” Trump wrote.
Pence quickly endorsed the effort, posting on X: “Strong Move Mr. President. God Bless All Our Troops Engaged in Project Freedom.” The operation, dubbed “Project Freedom,” marks a new phase in the administration's strategy to counter Iran's naval blockade.
The conflict has also sparked a constitutional clash over war powers. The White House has declared the conflict over before a 60-day deadline that would trigger War Powers Act requirements, a move critics call legally dubious. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed a ceasefire halts the clock, further muddying the legal landscape.
As the operation grinds on, the Pentagon has revealed a $25 billion price tag, with munitions accounting for the bulk of spending. The escalating costs and public disapproval suggest the political stakes are rising for the Trump administration as it navigates a conflict it insists was inevitable.
