Vance Says White House Has ‘A Lot Of Work To Do’ After Trump’s On Americans’ Finances

Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration has “a lot of work to do” on the economy after President Donald Trump faced backlash for saying Americans’ financial struggles were not motivating his push for a deal with Iran.

The comments came as the White House is under growing pressure over rising prices, especially gasoline, after the war with Iran pushed energy costs sharply higher. Asked on Wednesday what his message was to Americans feeling the squeeze, Vance acknowledged the administration still had to deliver more economic relief.

“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,” Vance said, according to ABC News. “The president is hyperaware of this. I’m hyperaware of this. We talk about it all the time.”

Vance’s remarks followed Trump’s remarks a day earlier in which he was asked how much the Americans’ financial situation was motivating him to make a deal with Iran. Trump replied: “Not even a little bit.” He added that his focus was on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

“The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran, they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said before leaving for China. “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.”

The exchange gave Democrats a quick opening to argue that Trump appeared disconnected from household concerns at a moment when inflation has returned as a political problem. The latest Consumer Price Index showed prices rose 3.8% in April from a year earlier, while gasoline prices jumped 5.4% in one month and 28.4% over 12 months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Energy prices have become the clearest pocketbook issue tied to the war in Iran. Reuters reported that the White House has been looking for ways to ease gas prices as the conflict drags on and fuel costs climb, including discussions around possible tax relief and other limited options.

Trump campaigned heavily on lowering costs, and now the country is watching gas, electricity, and other basic expenses rise while the administration argues that Iran policy must come first.

Since the conflict intensified in late February, Iran has effectively tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes.

Reuters reported that disruptions in the strait have already slashed exports from Gulf producers and pushed crude oil prices above $100 a barrel. Brent crude recently traded around $105 per barrel while U.S. crude hovered above $100, levels not seen consistently in years.