Vice President Vance Says Administration Has Work to Do on Economy After Trump Iran Comment

Vance made the remarks during a press conference on anti-fraud initiatives at the White House complex. He stated that both he and the president are aware of economic challenges facing Americans and discuss them frequently. "My message to Americans is we know that we have a lot of work to do in order to deliver on the prosperity that the American people deserve.

The president is hyperaware of this. I'm hyperaware of this. We talk about it all the time," Vance said. Trump said he was focused solely on preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Vance suggested that the president's comments had been mischaracterized.

He added that the administration cares about Americans' economic well-being and agreed that Iran should not possess a nuclear weapon. The comments follow a Tuesday inflation report showing the highest level since May 2023, driven by surging gasoline prices connected to the war with Iran.

The national average price of a gallon of gasoline stands above $4.51.

Speaker Mike Johnson also addressed the matter on Wednesday. He said he speaks with the president multiple times daily about Americans' financial situations and that the president is focused on resolving the conflict in Iran. Johnson noted that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would help ease pressure on gas prices and the broader economy.

He acknowledged that the war in Iran had affected affordability nationwide even as Republicans seek to manage the economy and inflation. Johnson expressed optimism that gasoline prices and inflation would decline once the Iran conflict is resolved. The war has contributed to higher energy costs.