US President Donald Trump has accused Democrats of wanting the United States to lose the war against Iran, intensifying the political battle over a conflict that is putting further pressure on American households through higher food and petrol prices.
Trump said the political left would prefer the US to lose rather than allow his administration to win what he described as the “war for America”. His comments come as his Republican Party heads into November’s midterm elections with rising living costs and the economic impact of the US-Israel war on Iran becoming key political concerns.
The conflict has also unsettled global energy markets, with disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz raising concerns over crude supplies, tanker movements and freight costs. Sustained disruption could keep international oil prices elevated and increase pressure on fuel markets, particularly in oil-importing economies.
The political pressure on Trump has intensified alongside the economic strain. A Pew Research poll last month put his approval rating at 34 per cent, while a majority of Americans surveyed expressed disapproval of the war.
Higher petrol prices remain particularly sensitive ahead of the midterms because of their direct impact on household spending and wider costs across transportation, logistics and businesses. For energy-importing countries such as Nigeria, prolonged pressure on crude and shipping costs could also raise the cost of imported petroleum products.
Trump’s latest attack on Democrats therefore comes as the Iran conflict increasingly intersects with the US political and energy outlook, with voters set to judge the administration against both the conduct of the war and its impact on the cost of living.