The Iran situation has Democrats and Republicans at odds, with the former criticizing President Trump's handling of the crisis and its potential impact on energy prices. 'Americans are demanding help with the cost-of-living crisis, but President Trump would rather start another war, potentially driving up energy prices, than listen to them,' said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. The tension arises as Democrats argue that Trump's decision to launch what he called 'major combat operations' in Iran without sufficient consideration of energy prices could have dire consequences. With approximately 20 percent of the world's oil and gas flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, any disruption could significantly impact global energy markets.
The debate intensifies as Trump, during his State of the Union address, exaggerated the drop in gasoline prices, claiming they were 'in some places $1.99 a gallon.' However, the U.S. average was actually $2.98, according to AAA. 'Destabilizing Iran is not cost-free. Iran has the capacity to disrupt oil shipments in the Persian Gulf, activate proxies across the region, and trigger refugee flows that would immediately affect Qatar, the UAE, Turkey, and others,' warned Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.).
The situation is further complicated by the fact that most Republicans support Trump's decision to attack Iran, while some anti-war conservatives, including Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, are joining with Democrats in sponsoring resolutions against American intervention. 'Events are rapidly unfolding, and I expect Congress to receive the same level of engagement so we fully understand the scope, objectives, and risks of any further military action,' said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a long-time energy issue advocate.
However, Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) suggested that Americans won't be too bothered by the Iran situation, especially when domestic issues are pressing. 'When domestic issues are particularly pressing, voters naturally focus less on international matters,' he wrote on X. The focus on gasoline prices in Congress and the campaign trail will likely increase if prices spike, but for now, many lawmakers are debating the legality and wisdom of Trump's actions. 'Iran is a bad actor and must be aggressively confronted for its human rights violations, nuclear ambitions, support of terrorism, and the threat it poses to our allies like Israel and Jordan in the region,' said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). 'However, absent exigent circumstances, the Trump administration must seek authorization for the preemptive use of military force that constitutes an act of war.'
Reporters Amelia Davidson, Nico Portuondo, and Andres Picon contributed to this report.
