‘I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation’ in Iran war, Trump says as inflation bites

New York: US President Donald Trump dismissed a surge in inflation due to the Iran war and declared he does not think about Americans’ financial situation when deciding whether to make a deal with the regime to end the conflict.

The comments, which were immediately seized upon by Democrats, came as Trump departed Washington for a high-stakes trip to Beijing, where he expects to have a “long talk” with Chinese President Xi Jinping about Iran.

It is the first time a US president has made a state visit to China since Trump went in 2017, during his first term.

Figures released Tuesday (US time) show inflation leapt to 3.8 per cent in April – up from 3.3 per cent in March – mostly due to rising energy costs on the back of the war.

Inflation also skyrocketed in Australia, to 4.6 per cent in March from 3.7 per cent in February, driven by the cost of fuel and housing.

The US national average petrol price has now climbed to $US4.50 a gallon ($AUD1.65 a litre) – expensive by American standards, but cheaper than in Australia.

Asked by a reporter to what extent Americans’ financial situation was motivating him to make a deal to end the war, Trump replied: “Not even a little bit.”

“The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran: they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” he said. “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.”

The president also dismissed the uptick in inflation. “Inflation is much lower than it was under Biden,” he said. “Our inflation is short-term … My [economic] policies are working incredibly.”

Meanwhile, under questioning in Congress, Pentagon officials revealed the estimated cost of the war had increased to $US29 billion ($40 billion) – up from $US25 billion at the end of April, despite the ongoing ceasefire.

Acting Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst said the updated figure took account of equipment repair and replacement, as well as ongoing operational costs, such as moving more troops into the region.

Amid the ongoing stalemate over a peace deal, Trump said he would contemplate his next move during the long flight to the other side of the world.

“We’ll be thinking about it for the next little while,” he said. “We’ve beaten their military very soundly – that’s over with. The blockade is very effective … We’re only going to make a good deal, and we’ll see what happens.”

Iran formally responded to a US proposal to end the war this week, demanding the lifting of sanctions against Iran, unfreezing of Iranian assets around the world, and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Trump called Iran’s counter-offer unacceptable and a “piece of garbage”, and said it was so bad he did not even finish reading the document.

While answering questions from reporters as he departed Washington for China, Trump called two separate female journalists “stupid” and “dumb” – one who asked about inflation and Iran, and another who pressed him on the growing costs of his White House ballroom.

“We had a choice: let these lunatics have a nuclear weapon – if you want to do that, then you’re a stupid person, and you happen to be,” he told one female reporter. “I know you very well.”

The president’s pet ballroom project was originally estimated to cost $US200 million, which has now blown out to $US400 million. Trump says this will be covered entirely by private donors.

“I doubled the size of it because we obviously need that,” he said, while leaning in to address the reporter. “I doubled the size of it, you dumb person. You are a – you are not a smart person.”

The White House released a partial list of passengers on board Air Force One for the China trip, which included the president’s son Eric Trump and his wife Lara, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and deputy chief-of-staff Stephen Miller.

Separately, it was revealed Melania director Brett Ratner – a friend and business partner of Australian tycoon James Packer – is also travelling with Trump to China, where he is reportedly scouting locations to film Rush Hour 4.

Ratner was spotted on board Air Force One by reporters. His spokeswoman Victoria Palmer-Moore confirmed to The Washington Post that he was travelling to China to look for film locations for the franchise reboot.

Ratner returned to film production with the Melania Trump biopic after being accused of sexual harassment by multiple women – claims he denied.

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