¶ Desmond Supported Trump’s Costly War With Iran That Raised Prices For Californians
¶ Desmond Defended Trump’s War In Iran
Desmond Said The Iran War “Needed To Be Done.” In an interview with Newsmax, Jim Desmond said, “DESMOND: You know, I mean, I get mixed messages about the war, but I think we're a safer country, a safer planet and a safer world without, you know, the Islamic leaders in Iran having a nuclear weapon. I mean, that's it was the whole emphasis and the whole reason for going in there. You know, I'm, it's unfortunate that that's what we had to do, but we cannot let them have a nuclear weapon. And I think that work needed to be done.” [Newsmax, 6/18/26] (video)
Desmond Said He Supported That Someone Had To “Step Up And Take On Iran.” According to LA Times, "Desmond has made his alignment with the Trump administration clear in recent weeks, telling the San Diego Union-Tribune in April that he supports many of the president's policies, including his effort to reverse birthright citizenship. ‘I support the fact that he shut down the border. I support the fact that he's trying to lower taxes. I support the fact that somebody had to step up and take on Iran,’ Desmond said." [LA Times, 5/1/26]
Desmond On Rising Gas Prices As A Result Of The War In Iran: “No Pain, No Gain.” According to an interview with Jim Desmond on Real America’s Voice, "DESMOND: You know, Iranian want freedom, Iranians do not want to be under these, under the thumb of these regimes And I may take, you know, no pain, no gain. So it's unfortunate the oil prices are going up, but I do believe this is a spike. And President Trump is right: once we are able to get rid of their nuclear capabilities, oil prices will come down again." [Real America’s Voice, American Sunrise, 3/9/26] (video)
Desmond Admitted That Gas Prices Were Rising In California Because Of The War In Iran. According to an interview with Jim Desmond on Real America’s Voice, "DESMOND: ‘We’ve seen our gas tax, our gas prices have been $4.50 and above and that’s where we started, now we’re going up because of the spike here because of the war." [Real America’s Voice, American Sunrise, 3/9/26] (video)
¶ Trump’s War In Iran Raised Gas Prices In California
July 2026: California Gas Prices Continued Rising Due To The Iran War. According to Sacramento Bee, "California gas prices are on the rise — again. Renewed tensions between the United States and Iran are fueling concerns about global oil supplies, pushing gas prices up across much of the country, according to fuel experts. California’s average price for a gallon of regular gas has increased by 10 cents over the past week, according to AAA and GasBuddy. Instability in the Middle East — including ongoing concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — has helped drive crude oil prices toward $90 a barrel. AAA said this ‘could continue driving up costs during the second half of summer.’" [Sacramento Bee, 7/28/26]
- HEADLINE: “As Gas Prices Spike, California Is Hit Hardest” [New York Times, 3/25/26]
- HEADLINE: “California Gas Prices Are The Highest In The U.S., But There's No Proof Of Price Gouging. Here's Why.” [CBS News, 4/2/26]
7/28/26: Researchers At The Watson School Of International And Public Affairs Estimate That The War Cost Each Household In California An Additional $273.92 To Date In Energy Costs.
[Watson School Of International And Public Affairs Climate Solutions Lab, Iran War Energy Costs Tracker, viewed 7/28/26]
Consumers Faced 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]
¶ Trump’s war In Iran Hurt Small Businesses In California
Small Businesses In California Expressed Difficulties Due To The Iran War On Top Of Uncertainty Already In The Economy. According to Cal Matters, "Small businesses already navigating the costs and chaos of tariffs must now also contend with the effects of the war in Iran. ‘It just feels like things keep getting piled on top,’ said Nichole MacDonald, owner of a San Diego business that sells women’s bags. ‘Not just for businesses, but for consumers. And what is a business without consumers?’ Since her customers are feeling financial pain just like her, they’re spending less money on discretionary items, she said. If they are still buying, they’re choosing denim bags over leather because they’re cheaper. ‘Each level of pressure, economic uncertainty and tightening of the purse strings impacts people’s decisions on spending,’ the Sash Bag owner said. Other small retailers in the area tell similar stories of increased costs and having to adjust to continued tariff uncertainty in the wake of the Supreme Court decision that invalidated the bulk of President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging tariffs. In some cases, such as if they imported their own goods, they might be able to apply for tariff refunds, though the timeline for receiving refunds is unclear." [Cal Matters, 4/29/26]
High Prices From The War Have Lowered Consumer Confidence And Created Speculation On Small Business Closures. According to Cal Matters, "Small businesses already navigating the costs and chaos of tariffs must now also contend with the effects of the war in Iran. […] Meanwhile, everyone has been hit with higher shipping costs because fuel prices have gone up. The average price for regular unleaded gas in the state is $5.55, up from $4.79 a year ago, according to AAA. The national average is $4.11 vs. $3.15 a year ago. The spikes in gas prices caused inflation to rise in March. Consumer confidence is at a record low. Higher prices hit small businesses — defined as those with fewer than 500 employees — harder than big ones, and some wonder how long they can survive. That’s bad news for the state, whose small businesses create millions of new jobs a year and lately have been responsible for 99% of net new jobs, according to the California Office of the Small Business Advocate." [Cal Matters, 4/29/26]
The California Office Of The Small Business Advocate Stated Small Businesses Have Been Responsible For 99% Of Recent Net New Jobs. According to Cal Matters, "That’s bad news for the state, whose small businesses create millions of new jobs a year and lately have been responsible for 99% of net new jobs, according to the California Office of the Small Business Advocate." [Cal Matters, 4/29/26]
¶ Trump’s War In Iran Increased Food Prices
July 2026: Prices For Fresh Food, School Supplies, And Any Goods That Required Shipment Were Expected To Increase Amid Energy Price Increases Due To 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]
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]