¶ Overview
Allen claimed Trump was forced into starting the war with Iran after his administration's diplomatic efforts were rebuffed, and later called the war a “righteous conflict” while praising Trump's “courage” for challenging Iran. The conflict Allen thought was “righteous” caused Georgia gas prices to skyrocket, disrupted Georgia ports and hamstrung Georgia farmers. All the while, Allen voted in lockstep with his Republican colleagues to ensure Trump's war with Iran continued unchecked.
¶ Allen Backed Trump’s Costly War With Iran That Raised Prices For Georgians
¶ Allen Defended Trump’s War With Iran, Claiming It Was A “Righteous Conflict” That The Administration Was Forced To Undertake
Allen Claimed The Trump Administration Was Forced To Take Military Action In Iran After Their Diplomatic Attempts Were Rebuffed. Rep. Rick Allen tweeted, “The Trump Administration actively pursued a diplomatic solution to Iran's maintained nuclear capabilities which was unfortunately rejected by Iranian leaders. ‘Operation Epic Fury’ is a strategic and widespread response to Iran's malign activity and attempts to rebuild their nuclear program. Make no mistake about it, Iran is the number one state sponsor of terrorism, and dealing with the existential threat that the regime poses is a critical national security matter. I will continue to monitor this situation closely. Please join me in praying for the safety of our brave servicemembers and our allies.”
[Twitter, @RepRickAllen, 2/28/26]
5/20/26: Allen Called Trump’s War In Iran A “Righteous Conflict” And Praised The Trump Administration’s “Courage” In Challenging Iran. According to Rep. Rick Allen in a House Committee on Education and Workforce meeting, “ALLEN: Never in history has an administration united the entire Middle East against the most evil in the world. And that is people, a nation, that says they want to destroy Israel and everyone that supports the people of Israel. That is the conflict we’re in today. It is a righteous conflict and thank goodness for the courage of this administration in taking on this very difficult situation. Again, that’s courage, and we’re seeing courage today, and we’ve seen it throughout Biblical history.” [Rep. Rick Allen, House Committee on Education and Workforce, 5/20/26] (video)
¶ Allen Repeatedly Voted Against Ending The United States’ Action In Iran
¶ July 2026: Allen Voted Against Removing U.S. Armed Forces From Hostilities Against Iran Unless Explicitly Authorized By A Declaration Of War
2026: Allen Effectively Voted Against Withdrawing US Troops From Iran. In July 2026 Allen 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: Allen Voted Against Removing U.S. Armed Forces From Hostilities Against Iran Unless Explicitly Authorized By A Declaration Of War
2026: Allen Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War. In May 2026, Allen 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: Allen Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War
5/14/26: Allen Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War. In May 2026, Allen 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: Allen Voted Against Directing The President To Withdraw Troops From Iran Unless Authorized By Congress
4/16/26: Allen Voted Against Directing The President To Withdraw Troops From Iran Unless Authorized By Congress. In April 2026, Allen 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: Allen Voted Against Directing President Trump To Withdraw Troops From Iran
3/5/26: Allen Voted Against Directing President Trump To Withdraw Troops From Iran. In March 2026, Allen 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 Georgians
¶ 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 Close 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 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]
8/6/26: Diesel Cost An Average Of $5.31 In Georgia.
[AAA, Georgia Fuel Prices, Viewed 8/6/26]
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]
¶ 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]