President Donald Trump contradicted Vice President JD Vance on Monday after the vice chairman asserted final week that the administration’s prime precedence amid the Iran warfare was to maintain the worth of oil and fuel down for People.
In a social media put up on Monday morning, Trump mentioned that the “primary Purpose is, and at all times shall be” that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
President Donald Trump speaks on the David Mack Middle for Coaching and Intelligence, Aug. 14, 2026, in Backyard Metropolis, N.Y.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Picture
Final Thursday, Vance laid out a distinct order of priorities on Fox Information, saying that “objective No. 1” for the administration amid the warfare was to “preserve oil and fuel low cost for People throughout our nation.”
“After which clearly, objective No. 2 is make sure that Iran by no means will get a nuclear weapon,” he added. “I really feel assured we’re carrying out each of these objectives.”
Vance’s feedback about prioritizing fuel costs diverge from the president’s said mission of eliminating Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile applications. And whereas some Republicans have acknowledged fuel costs are too excessive, Trump mentioned he will not apologize for it.
Up to now, the president had outright rejected the concept that the home American financial system ought to issue into army choices round Iran.
“Not even just a little bit,” Trump said back in May when requested to what extent monetary strain on People was motivating him to strike a deal.
“The one factor that issues once I’m speaking about Iran, they can not have a nuclear weapon,” he added. “I do not take into consideration People’ monetary state of affairs. I do not take into consideration anyone. I take into consideration one factor. We can not let Iran have a nuclear weapon, that is all.”
Vice President JD Vance speaks throughout a roundtable occasion within the Eisenhower Government Workplace Constructing on the White Home campus, Aug. 5, 2026, in Washington.
Mandel Ngan/AFP through Getty Photographs
Requested about Vance’s feedback aboard Air Power One final Friday, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned that “each objectives are equally as vital to the president.”
“After all, we wish to preserve fuel costs low. That is why the administration has achieved a lot to maintain the markets secure, but additionally making certain Iran can by no means get a nuclear weapon is the president’s precedence with respect to the continuing battle, and it is one thing he will see by means of a method or one other,” she added.
Trump’s obvious rebuke of the vice chairman got here simply minutes after “Fox and Mates” anchor Lawrence Jones reacted to Vance’s feedback throughout this system’s Monday morning broadcast, and known as for “extra readability” from the White Home on the U.S. goals. Roughly eight minutes later, the president posted his message.
“It additionally seems to be like we obtained a solution from the president about what’s precedence No. 1 for america,” Jones mentioned about an hour later within the broadcast as he relayed the small print of the president’s put up.
A White Home official on Monday dismissed any characterization that there was a contradiction, saying the”media is trying to drive a wedge” between the president and vice chairman “when they’re on precisely the identical web page.”
The official pointed to feedback the vice chairman made earlier through the interview, by which he relayed the highest American goals in a distinct order.
“The factor I can say with confidence is I believe this ends with america in a stronger place, with Iran not having a nuclear weapon, and with the Strait of Hormuz returned to a spot the place oil and fuel costs are secure for the American individuals,” Vance mentioned when requested what an finish to the warfare would seem like.
Whereas the standing of the Strait of Hormuz has develop into a central focus of the warfare — injecting volatility into the worldwide vitality market even because the battle between the 2 international locations has ebbed and flowed — Trump has repeatedly argued that the price of not intervening in Iran would far outweigh the upper fuel costs People are coping with now.
The common value of a gallon of normal is $4.02 in response to GasBuddy, up 7 cents type final week and up greater than a greenback per gallon because the begin of the warfare.
Talking on the New York police academy final Friday, Trump instructed the gathered crowd that he wouldn’t apologize for the worth of fuel.
“[Iran’s] the No. 1 state sponsor of terror on this planet. We do not wish to have them have nuclear weapons,” Trump mentioned. “So keep in mind that when it’s important to pay just a little bit extra, you are at $4. It is OK. I imply, it is, I am not — I am not — I’ll by no means apologize. I did the appropriate factor.”
