¶ Mitchell Backed Trump’s Costly War With Iran That Raised Prices On Iowans
¶ Mitchell defended Trump’s war with iran
Mitchell Praised Trump For Allegedly Weakening Iran’s Nuclear Capabilities And Claimed Trump Was “The Strongest Leader To Have To Make Sure That There’s As Much Peace Across The World.” According to Joe Mitchell on the Steve Deace Show, "MITCHELL: I hear about Iran on the campaign trail. And again, it's been overshadowed a lot by who the Democrats have put up for their nominees in these various states, including, again, in my district. You know, I'm on the side of I hate war. I don't like war. I want to focus on our problems here at home. At the same time, we can't allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. We understand that. And I think, you know, for the most part, their nuclear capabilities have been set back decades at this point. And a lot of that is because of Operation Midnight Hammer that happened last year, but also because of the operations that they did this last spring. I would like to get our men and women in uniform back to the States as soon as possible. And I know people that are serving over there right now on bases. I just met with some of the Gold Star families from our state a few weeks ago. And, you know, we need to make sure that, you know, we're protecting our men and women in uniform. And, you know, again, I you know, I voted for the president because I think he's the strongest leader to have to make sure that there's as much peace across the world. And between us, I think there's far more peace now than there would have been if a weak leader like Kamala Harris would have gotten elected." [Steve Deace Show, 8/25/26] (audio)
Mitchell On The President’s War With Iran: “I Have Faith In Him.” According to an interview with Joe Mitchell on Beyond the Podium, “MITCHELL: The president’s dealing with, you know honestly, an international conflict right now with Iran and I have faith in him and Secretary Rubio and Secretary Hegseth that they’ll get that figured out. But they know they have to do that.” [CBS 2 Iowa, Beyond the Podium, 5/24/26] (audio) 00:13:11-00:13:25
When Asked If The War In Iran Should Have Never Happened, Mitchell Defended Trump’s Decision To Enter The War And Said “Sometimes You Have To Flex That Muscle,” In Reference To The U.S. Military. According to an interview with Joe Mitchell on Beyond the Podium, “QUESTION: Do you think with the gas price increase in hindsight that the conflict should have never began? MITCHELL: You know the president and the Secretary Of War and the Secretary Of State they had the information on the threat Iran had to this country and to, you know, our citizens and to our military. You know, ultimately you leave that in the hands of them. My philosophy is I don’t want troops over in the Middle East or anywhere if we don’t have to have them there, but we have a military for a reason. And sometimes you have to flex that muscle and be able to protect our citizens here at home if there’s threats abroad.” [CBS 2 Iowa, Beyond the Podium, 5/24/26] (video) 00:13:43-00:14:23
¶ The Iran war was costly for Iowans
¶ Regular And Diesel Gas Prices Were Higher For Consumers As A Result Of The War
The Average Iowa Household Has Paid An Extra $516 On Gas Since The Beginning Of Trump’s War With Iran. According to the Iowa Independent, "The average household in Iowa has already paid an extra $516 on gasoline since President Donald Trump began U.S. military attacks against Iran on Feb. 28, according to a new analysis by the minority staff of Congress’ Joint Economic Committee. Nationally, gasoline prices are about 30% higher than before the war began." [Iowa Independent, 7/15/26]
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]
7/29/26: Diesel Cost An Average Of $4.97 A Gallon In Iowa.
[AAA, Fuel Prices, viewed 7/29/26]
- HEADLINE: Diesel Prices Skyrocket As War In Iran Continues. [The Trucker, 3/11/26]
- HEADLINE: "‘It’s Taking All Of Our Money’: Truck Drivers In Iowa Lament Gas Price Surge Sparked By Trump’s Iran War" [The Guardian, 5/24/26]
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]
¶ Grocery Prices Were Higher For Iowans Because Of The War With Iran
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]
HEADLINE: "Higher Prices For Gas, Groceries And Flights Will Likely Outlast The Iran War" [AP News, 6/16/26]
¶ The War In 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]