The president's war with Iran continues to cause economic pain at home

As the impact of Donald Trump’s war with Iran continues to impact the American economy, administration officials continue to insist that things are not just fine, but excellent. People are buying American oil, the stock market is hitting record highs, and we are entering the long-promised golden age. But the numbers don’t lie, and this week the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that inflation jumped almost 3.8 percent in April, reaching its highest levels since May 2023.

According to the Tuesday report from the Department of Labor, the spikes in inflation since Trump initiated the war in February are primarily correlated to the massive increase in the price of oil, gas, and other resources that traverse through the still-closed Strait of Hormuz. Inflation jumped to 3.3 percent in March, during the first month of the war. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that year over year, the price of gasoline has increased 28 percent, while the price of fuel oil has jumped 54 percent in the same time frame.

The price hike in the basic commodity has spread throughout any industry that relies on transportation logistics, and the price of basic goods like fruit, groceries, beverages, and household goods are increasing as a result.

The White House responded to the report by releasing their own chart showing products that have actually gotten cheaper. The decreased price of eggs — an economic flashpoint for the Trump administration — tops the chart. Followed by smart phones, sports tickets, and men’s suits. You know, those basic goods your family needs to live.

The administration’s out-of-touch insistence that everything is dandy doesn’t seem to be resonating with the American people. As inflation goes up, Trump’s economic approval is headed in the opposite direction. According to a CNN poll published Tuesday, Trump’s disapproval rating on his handling of the economy reached a high of 70 percent between April 30 and May 4. A separate poll conducted by the Associated Press and NORC in April produced a similar figure, and found that 76 percent of respondents disapproved of the manner in which the president was handling cost-of-living concerns.

While Americans struggle, the president is busy posting AI slop on Truth Social and sending out his transportation secretary on luxury road trips while the rest of the country deals with skyrocketing fuel costs. On Tuesday morning, Trump fantasized about putting his face on the $100 dollar bill, in case his voters needed a reminder about who exactly wrecked the fuel economy the next time they’re asked to empty their wallets at the pump.