Trump called the Iran war gas spike a 'glitch' in March. Now he says it cost the midterms

On Wednesday, Nov. 4, President Donald Trump said it was largely true that the war with Iran cost Republicans the House and Senate. His reason was that it drove gasoline prices up "a little bit short term" ¹². He also said he would do it again ¹.

The record shows the price spike was not short. The U.S. and Israel struck Iran on Feb. 28 ⁷. For the eight months since, Trump has kept telling Americans that high gas prices were fine, temporary or about to fall.

I think it's largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit short term.

March: 'a little glitch'

Ten days into the war, gas averaged $3.47 a gallon, up nearly 50 cents in a week, according to AAA figures cited by ABC News ⁵. In an ABC interview, Trump called the jump "a little glitch." On social media he wrote that oil prices would drop rapidly once the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat was over ⁵.

Two weeks earlier, in his Feb. 24 State of the Union address, Trump had said gas was below $2.30 in most states ⁵. By March 13 the national average had reached $3.60. The Associated Press reported that Trump had started describing higher oil prices as a good thing ⁶.

From Channel GOPTrump's 'find 11,780 votes' call played at hearingDonald Trump · 259 plays · captioned, with the source named

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.

That matters because the people who "make a lot of money" when crude oil rises are oil producers. Drivers pay more at the pump, including retirees on fixed incomes.

April: Trump says his energy chief is wrong

By April 20, AAA put the average at $4.04 a gallon, up from $3.15 a year earlier, Reuters reported ⁷. Energy Secretary Chris Wright had said on CNN that gas below $3 might not come until next year ⁷.

Trump disagreed. He told a reporter from The Hill that Wright was totally wrong on that. He said prices would come down as soon as the war ended ⁷. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted gas would fall to around $3 a gallon that summer ⁷.

September: 'longer than the midterm'

The summer came and went without that relief. On Sept. 9, flying to a Republican gathering in Dallas, Trump admitted lower prices would not arrive before Election Day ⁸. Gas averaged $4.22 that day. Diesel, the fuel trucks use to move food and goods, hit a record $5.94 a gallon, CNN reported ⁸.

I think it's going to take a little bit longer than the midterm

CNN noted that the administration had predicted a war of four to six weeks. At that point it had gone on for about six months ⁸. Trump said Iran would try to end the war "immediately after the election" ⁸.

What voters saw

AAA said on Nov. 5 that gas prices had been falling for nearly two weeks. The national average of $4.10 is still more than $1 higher than a year ago, and pump prices "remain the highest they've ever been during this time of year" ⁴. Before 2026, the November average had never gone above $4 ⁴.

Brent crude, the main world oil price, peaked at $116 a barrel on Oct. 23, CBS News reported. The day after the election it fell more than 8%, to about $94 ³.

In an NBC News exit poll, 63% of voters said Trump made the wrong decision in going to war with Iran, the Christian Science Monitor reported ⁹. Vice President JD Vance put it plainly, saying the war was the reason Republicans lost ². Trump still said he had no regrets, saying the U.S. had to take action against Iran ⁹.

What Democrats say comes next

Democrats won both chambers of Congress, CBS News reported ². Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer suggested Democrats could use government funding bills to push for an end to the war ³.

This war must end. It must end.

Rep. Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat, said "The war has got to end." He said Congress would use war powers resolutions and spending bills to do it ³. In March, Schumer had urged Trump to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the government's emergency stockpile. He warned then that "American families are suffering from higher prices as the effects of Trump's reckless war become pain at the gas pump" ⁵.

The pattern is that each promise moved relief to a later date. In March, prices would drop rapidly. In April, they would fall once the war ended. In September, relief would come after the midterm ⁵⁷⁸. Now that the votes are counted, Trump calls eight months of high prices short term ¹.

The Record

1. Feb 28, 2026The U.S. and Israel strike Iran, starting the war ⁷.
2. Mar 9, 2026With gas at $3.47, up nearly 50 cents in a week, Trump calls the rise "a little glitch" ⁵.
3. Apr 20, 2026With gas at $4.04, Trump says his energy secretary is wrong that $3 gas might wait until 2027 ⁷.
4. Sep 9, 2026With gas at $4.22 and diesel at a record $5.94, Trump says relief will take "longer than the midterm" ⁸.
5. Nov 4, 2026After Republicans lose Congress, Trump says it is "largely true" the war cost them because gas rose "a little bit short term" ¹.

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<h2>Trump called the Iran war gas spike a &#39;glitch&#39; in March. Now he says it cost the midterms</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Receipts Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-called-the-iran-war-gas-spike-a-glitch-in-march-now-he-says-it-cost-the-midterms">The GOP Files</a> on Saturday, November 7, 2026.</em></p> <p>On Wednesday, Nov. 4, President Donald Trump said it was largely true that the war with Iran cost Republicans the House and Senate. His reason was that it drove gasoline prices up &quot;a little bit short term&quot; . He also said he would do it again .</p> <p>The record shows the price spike was not short. The U.S. and Israel struck Iran on Feb. 28 . For the eight months since, Trump has kept telling Americans that high gas prices were fine, temporary or about to fall.</p> <blockquote><p>I think it&#39;s largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit short term.</p><p>&mdash; Donald Trump, President, Republican</p></blockquote> <h2>March: &#39;a little glitch&#39;</h2> <p>Ten days into the war, gas averaged $3.47 a gallon, up nearly 50 cents in a week, according to AAA figures cited by ABC News . In an ABC interview, Trump called the jump &quot;a little glitch.&quot; On social media he wrote that oil prices would drop rapidly once the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat was over .</p> <p>Two weeks earlier, in his Feb. 24 State of the Union address, Trump had said gas was below $2.30 in most states . By March 13 the national average had reached $3.60. The Associated Press reported that Trump had started describing higher oil prices as a good thing .</p> <blockquote><p>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.</p><p>&mdash; Donald Trump, President, Republican</p></blockquote> <p>That matters because the people who &quot;make a lot of money&quot; when crude oil rises are oil producers. Drivers pay more at the pump, including retirees on fixed incomes.</p> <h2>April: Trump says his energy chief is wrong</h2> <p>By April 20, AAA put the average at $4.04 a gallon, up from $3.15 a year earlier, Reuters reported . Energy Secretary Chris Wright had said on CNN that gas below $3 might not come until next year .</p> <p>Trump disagreed. He told a reporter from The Hill that Wright was totally wrong on that. He said prices would come down as soon as the war ended . Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted gas would fall to around $3 a gallon that summer .</p> <h2>September: &#39;longer than the midterm&#39;</h2> <p>The summer came and went without that relief. On Sept. 9, flying to a Republican gathering in Dallas, Trump admitted lower prices would not arrive before Election Day . Gas averaged $4.22 that day. Diesel, the fuel trucks use to move food and goods, hit a record $5.94 a gallon, CNN reported .</p> <blockquote><p>I think it&#39;s going to take a little bit longer than the midterm</p><p>&mdash; Donald Trump, President, Republican</p></blockquote> <p>CNN noted that the administration had predicted a war of four to six weeks. At that point it had gone on for about six months . Trump said Iran would try to end the war &quot;immediately after the election&quot; .</p> <h2>What voters saw</h2> <p>AAA said on Nov. 5 that gas prices had been falling for nearly two weeks. The national average of $4.10 is still more than $1 higher than a year ago, and pump prices &quot;remain the highest they&#39;ve ever been during this time of year&quot; . Before 2026, the November average had never gone above $4 .</p> <p>Brent crude, the main world oil price, peaked at $116 a barrel on Oct. 23, CBS News reported. The day after the election it fell more than 8%, to about $94 .</p> <p>In an NBC News exit poll, 63% of voters said Trump made the wrong decision in going to war with Iran, the Christian Science Monitor reported . Vice President JD Vance put it plainly, saying the war was the reason Republicans lost . Trump still said he had no regrets, saying the U.S. had to take action against Iran .</p> <h2>What Democrats say comes next</h2> <p>Democrats won both chambers of Congress, CBS News reported . Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer suggested Democrats could use government funding bills to push for an end to the war .</p> <blockquote><p>This war must end. It must end.</p><p>&mdash; Chuck Schumer, Senate Democratic leader, D-N.Y.</p></blockquote> <p>Rep. Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat, said &quot;The war has got to end.&quot; He said Congress would use war powers resolutions and spending bills to do it . In March, Schumer had urged Trump to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the government&#39;s emergency stockpile. He warned then that &quot;American families are suffering from higher prices as the effects of Trump&#39;s reckless war become pain at the gas pump&quot; .</p> <p>The pattern is that each promise moved relief to a later date. In March, prices would drop rapidly. In April, they would fall once the war ended. In September, relief would come after the midterm . Now that the votes are counted, Trump calls eight months of high prices short term .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-called-the-iran-war-gas-spike-a-glitch-in-march-now-he-says-it-cost-the-midterms">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/trump-called-the-iran-war-gas-spike-a-glitch-in-march-now-he-says-it-cost-the-midterms.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Standard (AFP), “Trump says 'largely true' Iran war caused midterms loss, after Vance comments” (2026-11-05). thestandard.com.hk/world/article/347558/Trump-says-largely-t
2. CBS News, “Why did Republicans lose the midterm elections? GOP soul-searching begins after blowout.” (2026-11-05). cbsnews.com/news/republican-losses-roil-gop-midterms-vance-c
3. CBS News, “More ships attacked in Persian Gulf, oil prices rebound slightly after post-midterm plunge” (2026-11-06). cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-us-trump-midterms-strait-o
4. AAA, “National Average Falls 12 Cents in One Week” (2026-11-05). newsroom.aaa.com/2026/11/national-average-falls-12-cents-in-
5. ABC News (via Yahoo News), “Trump dismisses soaring gas prices as 'a little glitch' of Iran war” (2026-03-09). yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-dismisses-soaring-gas-prices-1
6. AP (via Fortune), “Trump shifts on gas prices as Iran war drives oil higher” (2026-03-13). fortune.com/2026/03/13/trump-gas-prices-iran-war
7. Reuters (via GV Wire), “Trump says energy chief 'wrong,' expects lower gas prices as soon as Iran war ends” (2026-04-20). gvwire.com/2026/04/20/trump-says-energy-chief-wrong-expects-
8. CNN (via KEYT), “Trump says Iran war will end after the midterms and gas prices will fall” (2026-09-09). keyt.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/09/09/trump-says-iran
9. Christian Science Monitor, “Voters spoke. And it was about war, not just the economy.” (2026-11-06). csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/1106/election-trump-iran-war

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