House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) on Thursday sought to justify rising gas prices in the United States, arguing that it is a painful but necessary side effect of preventing Iran from building nuclear weapons.
Jordan engaged in a tough round of questioning on gas prices during an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. Collins said the economic burden is one President Donald Trump promised to alleviate during his 2024 campaign, reminding Jordan of the president’s promise to get gas prices to under $2 a gallon. With the Iran war now pushing average gas prices in the U.S. over the $4.50 mark, the news anchor pressed Jordan to make his case for the Trump administration.
“Well, gas prices were coming down until we had to deal with this situation, but you know, that’s life, that’s dealing with the world and the world we live in, I think the country gets the fundamental fact, and I know I understand this — President Trump makes decisions that are in the best interest of our nation,” Jordan replied.
“He makes decisions that are going to help our country and the long-term security and safety of the people he has the and I think you want a commander in chief like that, you want a commander in chief who’s willing to do tough things that he knows are good for us, all of us, all of your viewers, everyone in this country, and frankly, everyone around the world, it is good if Iran doesn’t get a nuclear weapon,” the Ohio Republican continued.
The tense interview came after Trump stirred the waters with another affordability remark earlier this week, telling reporters that he doesn’t “think about Americans’ financial situation” as a motivating factor for him to make a deal with Iran and end the conflict. The U.S. has been less impacted than many countries due to its energy independence, but it has still been impacted by the war, since the conflict effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a gateway for 20% of the world’s oil supply.
“Not even a little bit,” the president said Tuesday. “The only thing that matters, when I’m talking about Iran: They can’t have a nuclear weapon. 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. That’s the only thing that motivates.”
“Every American understands — and they just had a poll like 85%, which is surprising, it’s only that they understand that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump added.
It’s unclear which poll he was referring to. An Associated Press poll found that 80% of Americans are concerned about Iran having a nuclear weapon. The U.S. operation in Iran has consistently polled negatively.
Jordan’s CNN interview on Thursday took another twist when Collins said that telling the public, “‘that’s life,’ might not, you know, make them feel better.”
“Those are your words, those are your words, not mine,” Jordan shot back. “This is the situation. They were pursuing a nuclear weapon there. They wanted to get there. President Trump said, ‘I’m not going to do that.’ He ran on that, and he’s taken the appropriate action that I think you want your commander in chief to take for the security and safety of America.”
Collins continued to press him on the “that’s life” comment, leading Jordan to again push back.
“I’m not saying that’s life, like I’m saying life sometimes throws things at you that you didn’t anticipate, you have to deal with it, and you want a commander in chief who will deal with it and deal with it in a way that is focused on the safety of the people he was elected to serve and protect,” he said.
Jordan said the public could see gas prices under $2 “hopefully” soon, but expressed hope that the country understands “decisions have to be made” on Iran that will impact long-term national security.
“I want gas prices low, too,” he said. “I mean, we all want gas prices low. Who doesn’t, for goodness’ sake? But we also don’t want Iran to get a nuclear weapon. And I think the country’s smart, they understand decisions have to be made. Let’s focus on getting those gas prices down as quickly and as fast as we can, but let’s also focus on making sure that this regime, who was willing to hang a 19-year-old star athlete in their country … let’s make sure they don’t have a nuclear weapon.”
