Trump Disregards US Economy, Iran's Nuclear Weapons Are the Only Priority

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - US President Donald Trump has emphasised that the financial difficulties faced by Americans do not factor into his decisions regarding negotiations in the war with Iran. Trump stated that his primary priority at present is to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons, disregarding the economic impacts felt by his citizens.

Quoting Reuters, the strong statement was made by Trump on Tuesday (12/05/2026), when asked by reporters about how the financial situation of US citizens motivates him to reach a peace agreement. Trump bluntly replied that it does not influence him at all.

“The only thing that matters, when I talk about Iran, is that they must not have nuclear weapons. I am not thinking about the financial situation of American citizens. I am not thinking about anyone. I am thinking about one thing: We cannot allow Iran to have nuclear weapons. That’s it. That’s the only thing that motivates me,” said Trump before departing from the White House for China.

This statement arises amid significant pressure from Republican Party colleagues who fear that the economic burden of war could trigger negative reactions from voters. These concerns are increasingly evident given the rise in energy costs due to the Iran conflict, which has driven up petrol prices and triggered inflation, with US consumer inflation data for April recording the largest increase in the past three years.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung provided additional clarification on the president’s comments, emphasising the national security aspect. He stressed that the president’s primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of all American citizens from the Iranian nuclear threat.

“The president’s primary responsibility is the safety and security of American citizens. Iran must not have nuclear weapons, and if action is not taken, they will have them, which will threaten all American citizens,” said Cheung.

Although Trump frames his actions as a global security issue, US intelligence reports offer a different perspective.

According to three sources familiar with the matter, intelligence assessments indicate that the time required for Iran to build nuclear weapons has remained unchanged since last summer, namely around nine months to one year, even though the war has been ongoing for two months.

The Iranian government has consistently denied accusations that it is developing nuclear weapons and states that the programme is purely for peaceful purposes. However, Western parties continue to harbour significant suspicions that Tehran is building the capability to produce nuclear bombs.