New York: US President Donald Trump dismissed a surge in inflation due to the Iran war and declared he does not think about Americans’ financial situation when deciding whether to make a deal with the regime to end the conflict.
The comments, which were immediately seized upon by Democrats, came as Trump departed Washington for a high-stakes trip to Beijing, where he expects to have a “long talk” with Chinese President Xi Jinping about Iran.
It is the first time a US president has made a state visit to China since Trump went in 2017, during his first term.
Figures released Tuesday (US time) show inflation leapt to 3.8 per cent in April – up from 3.3 per cent in March – mostly due to rising energy costs on the back of the war.
Inflation also skyrocketed in Australia, to 4.6 per cent in March from 3.7 per cent in February, driven by the cost of fuel and housing.
The US national average petrol price has now climbed to $US4.50 a gallon ($1.65 a litre) – expensive by American standards, but cheaper than in Australia.
Asked by a reporter to what extent Americans’ financial situation was motivating him to make a deal to end the war, Trump replied: “Not even a little bit.”
“The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran: they can’t; have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
“I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation, I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all.”
The president also dismissed the uptick in inflation. “Inflation is much lower than it was under Biden,” he said. “Our inflation is short-term … My [economic] policies are working incredibly.”
Amid the ongoing ceasefire and a stalemate over a peace deal, Trump said he would contemplate his next move during the long flight to the other side of the world.
“We’ll be thinking about it for the next little while,” he said. “We’ve beaten their military very soundly – that’s over with. The blockade is very effective… We’re only going to make a good deal, and we’ll see what happens.”
Iran formally responded to a US proposal to end the war this week, demanding the lifting of sanctions against Iran, unfreezing of Iranian assets around the world, and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Trump called Iran’s counter-offer unacceptable and a “piece of garbage”, and said it was so bad he did not even finish reading the document.
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political reporter in Canberra.Connect via X or email.