Trump says he doesn’t ‘think about Americans’ financial situation’

The Speaker of the House of Representatives is trying to save the President of the United States from a bad mistake.

Or, as a layman puts it, “Cleaning in Aisle 3!”

In what Democrats can only see as a gift-wrapped gift from the political gods and one you’ll hear repeated a thousand times before November, Donald Trump appeared to dismiss concerns about his countrymen’s financial struggles.

Mike Johnson began: “I don’t know in what context you made that comment-“

To continue. When a seasoned MP starts out this way – even though the offensive words were said on camera and have received worldwide repercussions – he says he doesn’t want to answer the question. He wants to immediately return to his own spin.

TRUMP PROMISED LOWER COSTS; THE IRAN CONFLICT NOW THREATENS THAT COMMITMENT

A brief summary for those living without electricity: Donald Trump, who spent more hours working with journalists than any other president in history, had committed a language crime. By reframing the question, he is generally immune to such missteps as all cops have some basic skills.

Before leaving for China, a reporter asked if Americans were willing to make a deal with Iran because of their “financial situation.”

“Not even a little bit,” Trump said and didn’t stop there.

“When we talk about Iran, the only thing that matters is that they can’t have nuclear weapons. I’m not thinking about the finances of the Americans. I’m not thinking about anyone. I’m thinking about only one thing: We can’t let Iran have nuclear weapons. That’s all.”

This is where it came into play. Instead of focusing solely on nuclear weapons, Trump repeated the negative proposition literally.

Johnson’s statement:

“I can tell you that the President is thinking about the financial situation of Americans. I talk to him on average twice a day, sometimes three or four times a day, and we talk about it all the time. He’s focused on resolving the conflict in Iran. Because if we reopen the Strait of Hormuz, that will relieve the pressure on gas prices and other things in the economy.”

Message: He cares.

TRUMP SLAMS ‘FAKE COMPLIANCE’ QUOTE – BUT GOP PANIC IN DEEP RED STATE HINTS VOTERS ARE NOT GETTING IT

President Donald Trump speaks about inflation and affordability at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, on December 9, 2025. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

This reminds me of George HW Bush (who tended to read the talking points) saying in response to criticism that he was too focused on policy after winning the Persian Gulf War: “The message – I care.”

The Louisiana congressman tried to convey that message without contradicting what Trump actually said.

Now you can argue that Trump is acting incompetently, trying to convey that nothing is more important to him than stopping the Iranians on the nuclear front.

But in recent weeks the president has talked a lot about the White House ballroom. He said Barack Obama should be imprisoned for what happened in 2016. He continued his campaign of revenge against political enemies, particularly James Comey, whom he called a “dirty cop” and against whom he filed a “conch” indictment after he was previously thrown out of court.

None of this sends a message of affordability, especially given rising prices for items like beef, coffee and tomatoes.

MIKE JOHNSON SAYS HOUSE GOP IS WORKING AT FULL SPEED ON TRUMP’S ‘ADAPTABILITY AGENDA’

President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson speak during an “Invest in America” ​​roundtable discussion in the State Dining Room of the White House on June 9, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

In his comments the other day, Johnson took aim at Trump’s favorite punching bag. He said they were trying to “reverse the 40-year high inflation of the Biden years.”

Small problem. The announcement of the annual inflation rate as 3.8 percent for April left some TV economists breathless.

The president received support from an unlikely source: John Fetterman.

The Democratic senator told Fox News that his stance stems from his support for Israel and Trump being the first president to take on the terrorist state of Iran.

“I mean, he said something that was cut off by saying, ‘I don’t care about the American people financially.’ But what he actually said was, ‘I don’t think we can ever let Iran build a bomb.’

It was not “clipped” by most media outlets. But I’m sure Trump appreciated Fetterman’s vote against invoking the War Powers Act, which would have required Hill’s approval before the war could continue; especially at a time when three Republicans have broken ranks with their party.

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No president can turn the economic ship of the state around on his own. Even if Trump chooses Kevin Warsh, whom he has approved, as Fed chairman, there is no guarantee that interest rates will be lowered quickly, despite the president’s lengthy lobbying efforts.

And he certainly didn’t help himself with his poorly chosen words.