As was predicted by economists, Trump's war against Iran has sent oil prices surging and squeezed household budgets across the country, including in GOP strongholds like northeastern Colorado where one three-time Trump voter issued the president a particularly scathing nickname, Reuters reported on Saturday.
“He voted three times for Trump, but like many interviewed by Reuters, he considers himself a political independent, saying he distrusts the Republican Party nearly as much as their Democratic foes,” Reuters’ Brad Brooks wrote in the outlet’s report.
“Gas prices were hurting his industry, he said, and Trump was ‘naive’ to think he could quickly solve the issue. He expected prices would remain high into the fall, even if there was a breakthrough in stalled U.S.-Iran peace talks.”
Trump has admitted that Iran’s forceful response to the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks came as a surprise to him. Shortly after authorizing the initial attack on Iran in late February, Trump indicated that the military campaign would finish “within two to three weeks,” which, given the war has stretched into its 77th day as of Saturday, further demonstrated Trump’s inability to predict Iran’s response.
Trump’s allies have struggled to explain the administration’s failure to achieve its war objectives or to reach a deal with Tehran to end the conflict, with one former Trump official blaming said failures on the Trump administration being “too effective” at waging war.
For Brooks, Trump was “naive” in his thinking regarding the conflict. However, he told Reuters that despite the economic pain the president’s decision has inflicted on himself and his community, he still preferred the GOP over Democratic candidates, who he accused of moving toward “full-blown socialism.”
"I voted for Trump because the alternative is so bad,” Brooks told Reuters.