¶ Overview
- Murphy supported Trump's war with Iran and said the country had to be stopped “regardless of how it needs to be done.” Murphy said the war was worth having “gas prices up temporarily” as long as Iran's nuclear capability was demolished, and said the U.S. needed to “be willing to do what needs to be done” to defeat Iran. While Murphy was frothing at the mouth over the alleged threat Iran posed to the U.S., the “temporary” rise in gas prices forced his constituents to pinch pennies to get by and hamstrung North Carolina's agricultural industry. All the while, Murphy voted in lockstep with his Republican colleagues to ensure Trump's war with Iran continued unchecked.
¶ Murphy Backed Trump’s Costly War With Iran That Raised Prices For North Carolinians
¶ Murphy Defended Trump’s War With Iran, Saying Iran Had To Be Stopped “Regardless Of How It Needs To Be Done”
2/28/26: Murphy Gave His Support To Trump’s War With Iran And Said Iran Could Not Be Allowed To Spread Its “Cancerous Threat Of Islamic Jihadi Ideology” Around The World. According to a press release from Rep. Greg Murphy, “Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., issued the following statement regarding U.S. military action in Iran: ‘Decades of appeasement of the radical, Islamic terrorist regime of Iran are over,’ said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. ‘Ayatollah Khamenei and his terrorist rulers, if allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, would never hesitate to use it against Israel, the United States, or any other country. They have proven that life means nothing to them by recently killing thousands of their own people. President Trump and his administration have given Tehran every opportunity to negotiate peace, but, just like they have always done before, they have delayed and refused to cooperate to buy time to become a nuclear power. America cannot allow the cancerous threat of Islamic jihadi ideology to have such a devastating weapon to threaten the stability and security of our allies and the global community. These sentiments have been said previously by both Democrat and Republican Presidents. This should not be a partisan issue. I support this overdue action by President Trump and commend his strong record of delivering peace through strength. May God bless our troops and keep them safe.’” [Press Release – Rep. Greg Murphy, 2/28/26]
Murphy Echoed Sen. Roger Wicker’s Statement That Trump Needed To “Finish The Job” In Iran To Stop The Spread Of Its “Radical Theology” Across The Globe. Rep. Greg Murphy tweeted, “The Radical Islamic Regime of Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. Their own constitution states their goal is to push their radical theology across the world. They must not be allowed to do either.”
[Twitter, @RepGregMurphy, 5/23/26]
5/30/26: Murphy Spread Fearmongering About The Threat Of Iran Using A Nuclear Weapon Against The U.S. And Said The War With Iran Was Worth Having “Gas Prices Up Temporarily.” Rep. Greg Murphy tweeted, “I guess the Hosts and Editors of @GMA would rather have us and our children radiated by a nuclear Iran than have gas prices up temporarily. Their poorly veiled TDS and partisanship is simply disgusting.” [Twitter, @RepGregMurphy, 5/30/26]
6/7/26: Murphy Claimed To “Sympathize” With American Facing Higher Prices Due To Trump’s War With Iran And Said The Country Needed To “Be Willing To Do What Needs To Be Done” To Defeat Iran. According to Rep. Greg Murphy on Fox News, “MURPHY: And so, you know, after 47 years of being paid off by the Obama administration and the failed Iran nuclear deal, we had to do something. And it’s an inconvenience to people, I absolutely understand and sympathize with those who are facing higher prices because of this. But I think, you know, we have to step back and look at why: we have a radical regime which, in their constitution, says they wat to have their radical Islamic beliefs put across the world through whatever means they deem necessary. And that’s a nuclear weapon. So, you know, it’s challenging times. We have to be willing to do what needs to be done.” [Rep. Greg Murphy, Fox News, 6/7/26] (video)
Murphy On Iran: “They Have To Be Stopped Regardless Of How It Needs To Be Done.” According to Rep. Greg Murphy on Viewpoints, “HOST: Will Congress stand beside or, if you will, behind the president on this issue of Iran, in your opinion? MURPHY: Yeah, this is a hard one. And I think if we look in retrospect, we might have been able to do things a little bit differently in the presentation. The bottom line is, as messy as it is, regardless of what is, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Right. These Islamic radical terrorists, which is what they are. If they were allowed to have a nuclear weapon and I've spoken about it several times, I did a telephone town hall the other night and, you know, one woman was pushing me hard against it. If they're allowed to have a nuclear weapon and everything was well. You know, North Korea does. Pakistan. China does. The good thing is they understand with nuclear deterrence. Iran wouldn't care. These people don't care. They don't care if they killed 40,000 plus of their own people several months ago. They don't care. It's written in the Iranian constitution that they are to have their type of Islamic Sharia law throughout the world by essentially whatever means possible. So they don't care. So they have to be stopped. And I have to say they have to be stopped regardless of how it needs to be done.” [Rep. Greg Murphy, Viewpoints, 7/21/26] (audio)
¶ Murphy Repeatedly Voted Against Ending The United States’ Action In Iran
¶ July 2026: Murphy Voted Against Removing U.S. Armed Forces From Hostilities Against Iran Unless Explicitly Authorized By A Declaration Of War
2026: Murphy Effectively Voted Against Withdrawing US Troops From Iran. In July 2026 Murphy voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “motion to discharge the Foreign Relations Committee from further consideration of the joint resolution that would direct the president to withdraw U.S. armed forces hostilities against Iran not authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for military force.” The vote was on adoption of the resolution. The House adopted the resolution by a vote of 214 to 208. [House Vote 282, 7/23/26; Congressional Quarterly, 7/23/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res.89]
- The Senate Voted Against Ending The War In Iran On The Same Day. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The House and Senate, in votes Thursday on ending the Iran war, came to different conclusions, but the majority of voting members of Congress said it is time to bring U.S. troops home. The House, for the second time, formally called on President Donald Trump to end the war, approving 214-208 a nonbinding concurrent resolution (H Con Res 89) by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.” [Congressional Quarterly, 7/23/26]
- The Vote Came After The Trump Administration Declared A Memorandum Of Understanding From The Previous Month “Over”, With Three US Troops Killed The Weekend Before And Houthi Strikes Against Two Saudi Tankers The Day Before. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Last month, the Trump administration announced it had reached a memorandum of understanding with Iran. But less than a month later, Trump declared the MOU ‘over.’ On July 10, he formally notified Congress fighting in the war had resumed. Over the weekend, three U.S. troops were killed in an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan, while a fourth U.S. service member in Iraq died during what was supposed to be a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone. Iran’s proxy group in Yemen, the Houthis, struck two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea on Wednesday. Such attacks could choke off another bottleneck in the global economy in addition to the ongoing throttling of trade in the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the war.” [Congressional Quarterly, 7/23/26]
¶ June 2026: Murphy Voted Against Removing U.S. Armed Forces From Hostilities Against Iran Unless Explicitly Authorized By A Declaration Of War
2026: Murphy Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War. In May 2026, Murphy voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “adoption of a resolution that would direct the president to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.” The vote was on passage. The House adopted the resolution by a vote of 215 to 208. [House Vote 199, 6/3/26; Congressional Quarterly, 6/3/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res. 86]
- The Vote Occurred As The War Entered Its Fourth Month, And Was The House’s Fourth Vote On The War As Gas And Food Prices Continued To Rise. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Either way, supporters say the House adopting the resolution sends an important message to Trump that Congress is fed up with the war as it lumbers into its fourth month. ‘We're now past 90 days, there seems to be no end to this war, and folks want some accountability, Democrats and Republicans,’ New York Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the sponsor of Wednesday’s resolution, said ahead of the vote. ‘The American people are suffering. The cost of gas continues to go up, the cost of food and inflation keeps going up.’ ‘So it's been building and building,’ Meeks added. Wednesday’s vote was the House’s fourth on an Iran war powers resolution since the war started at the end of February, with each vote getting tighter than before. In the third vote last month, the measure was rejected 212-212.” [Congressional Quarterly, 6/3/26]
- GOP Leadership Delayed The Vote Through A Week-Long Recess When It Became Clear It Would Pass. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The House had originally been slated to vote on Meeks’ resolution before the Memorial Day recess. But when it became apparent the resolution was likely to be approved, particularly with a handful of Republican absences, GOP leadership yanked the vote from the schedule. Republicans could not delay the vote beyond Wednesday since the 1973 War Powers Resolution (PL 93-148) requires the House to vote within three legislative days of a measure being called up on the floor.” [Congressional Quarterly, 6/3/26]
- The Vote Came Amidst Ongoing Strikes Despite A Proclaimed Ceasefire With Iran Claiming It Was Suspending Talks Following An Israeli Incursion Of Lebanon. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The growing congressional angst over the war comes as an already fragile ceasefire appears increasingly tenuous and the Trump administration’s negotiations with Iran stumble. Early Wednesday morning, Iran launched a missile and drone attack at an airport in Kuwait, killing an Indian national and injuring dozens of other people, in what Tehran described as a response to U.S. strikes on Iran the night before. U.S. Central Command said Iran also targeted U.S. forces in Kuwait but that air defenses shot down the drones and ‘ensured no American personnel or assets were harmed.’ On Tuesday evening, Central Command said it conducted ‘self-defense strike’ on Iran’s Qeshm Island in response to Iran firing missiles and drones toward Kuwait and Bahrain. Hours earlier, Central Command also said U.S. forces fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room of a Botswana-flagged oil tanker that it alleged was trying to evade the U.S. blockade against Iranian ports. The exchange of fire comes amid on-again-off-again talks to end the war. On Monday, Iran said it was suspending talks with the United States in response to Israel’s incursion into Lebanon. But Trump maintained that talks are continuing despite Iran’s statement, posting on Truth Social on Tuesday that ‘the conversations between us have been going on continuously.’” [Congressional Quarterly, 6/3/26]
¶ May 2026: Murphy Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War
5/14/26: Murphy Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War. In May 2026, Murphy voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would direct the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force against Iran. It would clarify that nothing in the measure could be construed to disrupt intelligence, counterintelligence or investigative activities.” The vote was on passage. The House rejected the resolution by a vote of 212 to 212. [House Vote 170, 5/14/26; Congressional Quarterly, 5/14/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res. 75]
¶ April 2026: Murphy Voted Against Directing The President To Withdraw Troops From Iran Unless Authorized By Congress
4/16/26: Murphy Voted Against Directing The President To Withdraw Troops From Iran Unless Authorized By Congress. In April 2026, Murphy voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would direct the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran. The measure would exempt the use of U.S. armed forces that may be necessary to defend the U.S. or a U.S. ally or partner from imminent attack.” The vote was on passage. The House rejected the resolution by a vote of 213 to 214. [House Vote 114, 4/16/26; Congressional Quarterly, 4/16/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res.40]
¶ March 2026: Murphy Voted Against Directing President Trump To Withdraw Troops From Iran
3/5/26: Murphy Voted Against Directing President Trump To Withdraw Troops From Iran. In March 2026, Murphy voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would direct the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of its military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.” The vote was on passage. The House rejected the concurrent resolution by a vote of 212 to 219. [House Vote 85, 3/5/26; Congressional Quarterly, 3/5/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res.38]
¶ Trump’s War With Iran Was Costly For North Carolinians
¶ Regular And Diesel Gas Prices Were Higher For Consumers As A Result Of The War
VIDEO: “Gas Prices Surge As US-Iran War Continues” [Fox Carolina, 7/26/26] (video)
July 2026: The National Average Price For A Gallon Of Gas Was Reaching $4 Again After Trump Declared A Ceasefire Was Over. According to Arizona’s Family, "Gas prices continue to inch up after President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire agreement with Iran was ‘over.’ AAA reported the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was just shy of $4, at $3.98 a gallon. On Thursday, the average price of diesel was back up to about $5 a gallon. Oil and gas prices had been declining after the U.S. and Iran signed a peace plan to end the war in June." [Arizona’s Family, 7/17/26]
- The War In Iran Caused Fuel Inventories To Plunge To Historic Lows, Leading To A Major Surge In Gas Prices. According to the Washington Post, "Americans face a new round of punishing price increases for fuel and other products as oil and gas inventories plunge to historic lows around the world because of the war in Iran, energy executives and analysts warn. Fuel stocks are so low, experts said, that even an abrupt agreement between the United States and Iran and an immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies passed before the war — may not stop fuel prices from soaring anew by the July Fourth holiday." [Washington Post, 6/3/26]
8/6/26: Diesel Cost An Average Of $5.27 In North Carolina.
[AAA, North Carolina Fuel Prices, Viewed 8/6/26]
- HEADLINE: "NC Gas Prices Climb And Durham Drivers Say They Feel The Pinch" [ABC 11, 7/20/26]
Consumers Were Facing Higher Costs Of Airfare Due To The Increased Price Of Fuel For Airlines. According to Arizona’s Family, "The week before the war started, the price of jet fuel was $2.50 a gallon. On Tuesday, April 28, the price is $4.26, according to Airlines for America. ‘I fly Southwest mostly. I was able to get a straight flight home and two from here. It was higher than normal, for sure,’ said Patrick Foy, who was flying from Phoenix to Louisiana. Major airliners have already raised checked baggage fees because of the rising fuel prices, while some of the smaller, budget airlines are asking the federal government for billions of dollars in assistance. ‘It’s obviously frustrating. It affects our family’s budget,’ Foy said. Gas experts have said even when the war in Iran ends, the full relief people see at the pump or when buying a plane ticket will most likely not be immediate." [Arizona’s Family, 4/28/26]
¶ North Carolina Farmers Faced Skyrocketing Fertilizer Prices Due To Trump’s War With Iran
North Carolina Farmers Faced Rising Costs For Fertilizer And Fuel Amid The United States’ War With Iran. According to ABC 11 WTVD, “The war between the United States and Iran is now rippling through North Carolina's agricultural industry, creating new uncertainty for farmers already facing tough conditions. While much of the nation's attention has been on rising oil and gas prices, the ongoing conflict and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route, are also disrupting fertilizer supplies essential for American farmers. ‘My diesel fuel for my tractors has went up $2 a gallon over the last four weeks. And the diesel fuel for my trucks and road tractors, it's gone up from $3.39. I paid $5.59 this morning. That's a bigger problem,’ said Alan Williams, a fifth-generation farmer in Person County.” [ABC 11 WTVD, 3/26/26]
- HEADLINE: "Iran War’s Skyrocketing Diesel Prices Hit American Farmers Already Facing Historic Drought" [MS Now, 5/4/26]
- HEADLINE: "NC Farmers Feel Strain From Rising Fertilizer Costs And Low Supply Amid Iran War” [WRAL News, 3/29/26]
North Carolina Farmers Said They Were Going To Be “Pinching Pennies” Until The Iran War Was Over And Fertilizer Prices Returned To Normal. According to ABC 11 WTVD, “With planting season just weeks away, Williams and others are bracing for a season of difficult choices. ‘It's going to be tight. You're going to be pinching pennies,’ he said. About a third of the world's seaborne fertilizer passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and the ongoing conflict has fueled massive price increases for nitrogen fertilizer, a staple for crop production. ‘I hope the war ends today or tomorrow, and things will go back to normal,’ said Tim Gilliam, president of Camp Chemical Corporation, which supplies fertilizer to farmers across the region. ‘Granular nitrogen was about $620 a ton before the war. It's about $950 right now,’ Gilliam added. Since the start of the conflict, nitrogen prices have surged by 40% to 60%.” [ABC 11 WTVD, 3/26/26]
¶ Grocery Prices Were Higher For North Carolinians Because Of The War With Iran
A North Carolina Supply Chain Management Professor Expected At Least A 2 Percent Increase On Grocery Prices Due To The Iran War. According to CBS 17 WNCN, “According to Rob Handfield, a supply chain management professor at North Carolina State University, groceries are likely to go up by 2%, followed by other consumer products that require oil. ‘We’re likely to see inflation go up across the board for a number of other things we also purchase,’ NHandfield said. ‘We may see the cost of vehicles the cost of appliances, go up because all of those have a lot of resin and plastic that rely on oil prices as well.’ Experts say they do not expect these attacks to bring record breaking prices and hope gas prices will even out by the weekend.” [CBS 17 WNCN, 3/3/26]
Tomatoes, Bananas, And Onions Experienced Major Price Hikes Since The Beginning Of The War. According to Fortune, "The U.S., Israel, and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, but the sticker shock you’ve been feeling every time you go to the grocery store will get worse if the war continues. One of the first places you’ll feel it will be the produce aisle, experts say. A Fortune analysis of produce wholesale prices from USDA data found grocery-cart staples such as tomatoes, bananas, and yellow onions have experienced significant price spikes since the war began. The United Nations reported its global food price index rose by 2.4% in March, the second consecutive month of rising prices." [Fortune, 4/8/26]
July 2026: The Cost Of Fresh Food And Any Goods That Required Shipment Were Expected To Rise Amid Energy Price Hikes Over The United States’ War With Iran. According to PBS, “Already feeling pinched since the start of the Iran war, consumers are likely to feel more pain ahead as oil prices pushed past $100 a barrel Thursday amid renewed fighting and military strikes that have left global oil supplies stranded in the Middle East. The elevated price marked a turn from lower oil prices enjoyed briefly when hostilities between the U.S. and Iran waned in June. Brent crude, the international standard, last reached $100 a barrel in May. Companies that produce and sell fresh food, school supplies and anything that gets shipped using fuel reported cost impacts from an earlier spike in energy prices after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. They're likely to continue passing some of their increased expenses to consumers.” [PBS News, 7/24/26]
HEADLINE: "Higher Prices For Gas, Groceries And Flights Will Likely Outlast The Iran War" [AP News, 6/16/26]
¶ The War With Iran Cost U.S. Families $100 Billion So Far
As Of June 2026, The War In Iran Cost U.S. Families $100 Billion So Far. According to Fortune, "$750 a household—or $100 billion. This is the cost that Moody’s has calculated the Iran War has been so far to the U.S. consumer. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said the cost passed on to households is the result of increased military spending and higher prices as a result of oil supply disruption out of the Middle East. Since the U.S. and Israel launched action against Iran—setting off a domino-effect of attacks across the Middle East—brent crude has topped $110 a barrel on multiple occasions." [Fortune, 6/2/26]
Americans, By A Margin Of 56 Percent To 7 Percent, Expected Trump’s War In Iran To Have A “Mostly Negative Impact” On Their Personal Financial Situation. According to The Washington Post, “Americans, by a margin of 56 percent to 7 percent, expect the war to have a ‘mostly negative impact’ on their personal financial situation, according to a March 31 Ipsos poll. A Middle East conflict that lasts for several more months would almost certainly spread higher prices and supply chain disruption beyond Asia and Europe to American shores. ‘I don’t think the U.S. will avoid it. These are global markets,’ said Rachel Ziemba, a New York-based analyst who advises corporations on geopolitical risk. ‘Experts, even a week ago, were worried. Now they are more worried.’” [Washington Post, 4/4/26]