¶ Overview
Mike Collins supported Trump’s efforts to “rid the world of the largest state sponsor of global terror” and referred to American military operations in Iran as “The FAFO Doctrine.” But when confronted about increased gas prices, Collins claimed they were “temporarily high” but that it was an old problem. He offered no solution on rising prices and doubled down on his support for the war.
Trump's war of choice with Iran drove up Georgians' gas prices and squeezed Georgia farmers. Fertilizer costs soared and Georgians braced for higher utility bills as the war prolonged.
¶ Collins Supported The War In Iran Regardless Of Georgians’ Increased Costs
¶ Collins Supported The War With Iran
¶ Collins Cheered For War With Iran And Trump’s “FAFO Doctrine”
Collins Was Eager “To Rid The World Of The Largest State Sponsor Of Global Terror And Protect America From The Iranian Regime” And Declared That “Under President Trump, The United States Will No Longer Stand Idly By While Our Enemies Plot Against Us And Chant ‘Death To America.’” Congressman Mike Collins tweeted, “Under President Trump, the United States will no longer stand idly by while our enemies plot against us and chant ‘Death to America.’ My prayers are with our brave warfighters as they work to rid the world of the largest state sponsor of global terror and protect America from the Iranian regime.” [Twitter, @RepMikeCollins, 2/28/26]
Collins Called The Iranian Operations “The FAFO Doctrine.” Congressman Mike Collins tweeted, “The FAFO Doctrine” [Twitter, @RepMikeCollins, 2/28/26]
¶ Collins Underscored His Trust In Trump’s War Plan
[VIDEO] Collins Said Trump Was “A Phenomenal Man That Has A Grasp On What's Going On” And Was “Ten Steps Ahead Of Everybody Else In The Game” Which Meant That Collins Trusted Him “100% To Make The Right Decision.” “I would tell him I would lean on my military to tell me what the options are and what's the endgame. What's it going to look like? Yes. Yes, sir. But having said that, I will tell you something. That man is probably ten steps ahead of everybody else in the game, and I trust him 100% to make the right decision and the right call without calling me and asking me. But he has done he is a phenomenal man that has a grasp on what's going on.” [Mike Collins Campaign Event, 3/30/26]
[AUDIO] Collins: “I Would Not Trust Anybody Any More Than President Trump. I Trust His Leadership. I Trust His Vision And His Judgment And His Decision Making. And, You Know, At The End Of The Day, We're Going To Make Sure That That We Keep The American People Safe Over Here In This Country.” “HOST: Tonight, the president. Congressman Collins at 9:00 Eastern is going to address the nation and give us an update on Operation Epic Fury and what we're doing in Iran. Tell us, what are you expecting to hear tonight? What do you want to hear from the commander in chief this evening? COLLINS: Well, I think he's going to be very clear on what we're, what we're over there for. But I never like to put any words in President Trump or what he may or may not say. I would not trust anybody any more than President Trump. I trust his leadership. I trust his vision and his judgment and his decision making. And, you know, at the end of the day, we're going to make sure that that we keep the American people safe over here in this country.” [Scott Jennings Show, 4/1/26]
¶ Collins Downplayed Rising Gas Prices And “Wholeheartedly” Supported The War With Iran
[AUDIO] Collins Admitted That Gas Was “Temporarily High Right Now” But Urged Voters To “Look Back At The Way It Was, The Problem Was During The Biden Administration, The Problem Has Always Been Democrats.” “The message is going to be that the state of Georgia and for the people of Georgia that right now you're seeing a lot of changes. Yeah I know, gas is temporarily high right now. But if you look back at the way it was, the problem was during the Biden administration, the problem has always been Democrats.” [Martha Zoller Show, 4/22/26]
[VIDEO] Collins Believed That Trump Had “Gotten This Right” And “Wholeheartedly” Supported The War Against Iran. “HOST: Do you think the United States should have gone to war against Iran? COLLINS: Listen, I wholeheartedly support the Trump administration's policies. The, the, the president's gotten this right.” [11Alive, 4/29/26]
¶ Collins Maintained His Support For The War In Iran And Offered No Solution For Rising Gas And Fertilizer Prices
Collins, In Response To A Question On How He Would Support Farmers Amid War-Driven Spikes In Fuel And Fertilizer Costs, Called To “Finish That Job Over In Iran. Get That Done, Finish That Job” And Underscored His “Full Faith And Confidence” In Trump, Because Trump “Knows What He Is Doing.” According to WGXA, “WGXA asked Collins how he plans to support rural Georgia farmers, as the war in Iran has led to an increase in fertilizer and fuel costs. The U.S. Representative said he trusts President Trump’s leadership on the issue. ‘What we need to do is finish that job over in Iran. Get that done, finish that job,’ Collins said. ‘The President, I have full faith and confidence in him that he knows what he is doing.’” [WGXA, 5/5/26]
¶ Gas Prices In Georgia Rose Due To The War
¶ The War Squeezed Georgia Farmers Who Faced Increased Losses From Higher Fuel And Fertilizer Prices
The War Squeezed Georgia Farmers Who Faced Increased Losses From Higher Fuel And Fertilizer Prices. According to WMAZ, “Fertilizer is among the most immediate concerns. Producing nitrogen fertilizer is an energy-intensive process that relies heavily on petroleum. The Middle East supplies an estimated 40% to 50% of internationally traded nitrogen fertilizer, and analysts say urea — a key crop nutrient — has already risen roughly $70 per ton in some U.S. markets since tensions escalated. For Taylor County peanut and cattle farmer Michael Knowles, those numbers are not abstract. He said his operation is already projecting losses of around $200 per acre on peanuts and $150 per acre on corn — before any additional cost increases from the conflict. ‘There's been some predictions that fertilizer will go up another $100 a ton on top of losing money as it is,’ Knowles said. ‘Fuel is gonna go up. Fertilizers is predicted to go up maybe another $100 a ton. And the prices of all of our commodities is down cheaper than they should be, so we're already in — backs up against the wall pretty bad already.’” [WMAZ, 3/4/26]
- Increased Prices From The War Forced Existing Farms To Cose And Discouraged Future Farmers. According to WMAZ, “Knowles said the situation is discouraging a new generation from entering the industry. Equipment costs have doubled or tripled, interest payments are punishing and loans are harder to secure. Farm bankruptcies, he said, are climbing. ‘You look around and your neighbors are going out of business,’ Knowles said. ‘Used to there was a bunch of farmers in every county, and now you're down to just four or five.’” [WMAZ, 3/4/26]
Georgia Farmers Claimed The War’s Increased Prices Made “A Huge Difference For A Small Farm.” According to CBS News, “Gas prices have continued to rise as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has disrupted the flow of oil. In Georgia, farmers are feeling the impact of the price spike. Matt Jordan delivers around 300 pounds of mushrooms to the DeKalb Farmers Market every week from the Ellijay Mushrooms farm. ‘These are our most popular—straight from the farm, shiitake mushrooms,’ he said. Jordan makes multiple daily deliveries to grocery stores. With rising diesel gas prices, he's feeling the pain in his wallet. ‘From $4 to going on $6 is a huge difference for a small farm,’ he said. ‘We go through probably 130 gallons of diesel a week, and that makes a big difference. It really adds up.’” [CBS News, 3/13/26]
War Shocks And Increased Fertilizer Costs Added Inflationary Pressure On Georgia Farmers And Drove Up Food Prices. According to WALB, “Experts said food prices could be a slower, but significant, impact — especially for Georgia agriculture. Emory University supply chain professor Nikolay Osadchiy said fertilizer and other farm inputs often follow energy prices. ‘That is going to probably add a little bit of inflationary pressure towards the end of the year,’ Osadchiy said. The American Farm Bureau Federation has also warned that volatility in energy markets and shipping through the Persian Gulf can reverberate through global fertilizer supplies.” [WALB, 4/7/26]
¶ Georgia Gas Prices Skyrocketed Amid The War And Georgians Braced For An Increase On Their Utility Bills From The War’s Increased Natural Gas Prices
Georgia Gas Prices Skyrocketed Amid The War And Experts Warned Those Higher Prices Become “Embedded” As The War Prolonged. According to WALB, “Analysts say escalating tension around major shipping routes — including the Strait of Hormuz — can push global energy markets higher, and Georgia consumers feel those increases quickly. AAA reported Tuesday that regular gas is averaging $3.73 per gallon in Georgia and diesel is averaging $5.30 per gallon. Chris Gaffney, managing director of Georgia Tech’s Supply Chain and Logistics Institute, said when higher fuel costs persist, businesses begin factoring them into prices that reach consumers. ‘Once we’re after four weeks, it’s starting to show up embedded in those costs,’ Gaffney said.” [WALB, 4/7/26]
Georgians Braced For An Increase On Their Utility Bills From The War’s Increased Natural Gas Prices. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “If shipping remains impacted, Georgians could also see an uptick in their utility bills from the war. Global natural gas prices have increased since the fighting began. As the world’s top natural gas producer, the U.S. is likely better insulated from the market’s volatility than Europe or Asia. Still, it’s possible a prolonged Middle East conflict could raise natural gas prices in the U.S., which could eventually trickle into Georgia customers’ monthly utility bills.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/4/26]
¶ The War Disrupted Shipping At Georgia Ports And Slammed Georgia Exporters With Uncertainty And Increased Insurance Costs
The War Disrupted Shipping At Georgia Ports And Slammed Georgia Exporters With Uncertainty And Increased Insurance Costs. According to WALB, “Georgia’s ports and exporters could face additional disruptions. With increased detours and higher insurance costs, cargo schedules can shift quickly at the Port of Savannah. Exporters — including poultry shippers — may have to rebook shipments if routes through the Strait of Hormuz remain threatened, Gaffney said. ‘That box just got dropped off on the last best port,’ he said, describing how carriers can redirect cargo during major disruptions.” [WALB, 4/7/26]
¶ Georgia Airlines Raised Their Baggage Fees And Experts Warned Of Reverberating Price Shocks From Increased Jet Fuel Prices Caused By The War
Georgia Airlines Raised Their Baggage Fees And Experts Warned Of Reverberating Price Shocks From Increased Jet Fuel Prices Caused By The War. According to WALB, “Higher fuel prices can also hit travel out of Atlanta. Gaffney said jet fuel is a major expense for airlines, and prolonged increases can push up fares and fees and potentially reduce some international routes. ‘You may see curtailing of some of those international flights,’ he said. Delta and JetBlue both raised baggage fees in response to rising fuel prices.” [WALB, 4/7/26]