Donald Trump on Thursday shrugged off the economic toll the war in Iran is taking on gas prices across the US, writing on social media that “when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money”.
The president’s comment came as the American Automobile Association reports that the average price for a gallon of gas hit $3.60, a week after the beginning of the US-Israel military operation against Iran prompted the largest price spike since the opening days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Costs at the pump have increased in line with the price of crude, which climbed above $100 per barrel on Thursday as Iran launched attacks on oil facilities across the Middle East, despite the release of global petroleum reserves intended to stabilize markets.
‘We make a lot of money’: Trump downplays rise in gas prices during Iran war
“The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
But the rise in gas prices poses a political liability for Trump as primaries have begun ahead of the November midterm elections, when his Republican allies will be defending their small majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives.
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Pentagon tells lawmakers Iran war costs top $11.3bn – but true price unknown
Pentagon officials told top lawmakers in a closed-door briefing that the cost of the war against Iran has already exceeded $11.3bn in its first six days, but the true cost of the opening days of the conflict is likely far greater, according to two people familiar with the matter.
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Rescue effort under way as US military refueling plane crashes in Iraq
A US military refueling aircraft with at least five people onboard crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident US Central Command said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.
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Trump-endorsed Republican in Louisiana accused of rape in 2007
A Louisiana congressional candidate endorsed by Trump was the subject of a 2007 rape accusation – but it was never disclosed to the public or, reportedly, the president’s team as Blake Miguez became one of the rising stars in the state’s Republican party. Miguez’s campaign on Thursday issued a statement denying the allegations by a woman who described him as a “live-in ex boyfriend” at the time, calling her claims categorically false.
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Eswatini says it received more ‘third country’ deportees in Trump administration deal
The government of Eswatini announced on Thursday it received four more “third country” deportees from the US, as part of the Trump administration’s multimillion-dollar deal with the small African nation. Now, a total of 19 deportees from the US have been sent to Eswatini when they hail from other countries.
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Trump says Iran should not play in World Cup for their ‘life and safety’
Trump said on Thursday that Iran should not participate in the upcoming World Cup in North America, just days after telling Fifa’s chief they would be welcome despite the Middle East war.
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‘America’s mortal enemy’: Pete Hegseth expressed extreme antipathy toward Iran for years
The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has expressed a violent antipathy towards Iran for years in books, Fox News broadcasts, educational videos and a 2018 speech to an Israeli media conference in Jerusalem, a Guardian review has revealed.
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What else happened today:
Catching up? Here’s what happened Wednesday 11 March.
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