Veteran left-wing senator Bernie Sanders has issued a blistering four-word retort to National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett's attempts to reassure the public about rising oil prices as the war in Iran drags on. Reacting to Hassett's optimistic comments, Sanders simply stated: "God help us all."
Hassett's Controversial Economic Outlook
In a Tuesday interview with CNBC, Kevin Hassett, President Donald Trump's economic adviser, suggested that if oil prices were to decrease due to a resolution in Iran, inflation could approach zero. "Imagine if oil prices start going back down because the situation resolves itself somehow, then you could be looking at inflation close to zero," Hassett remarked, seemingly dismissing the six-week conflict's ongoing impact.
When MSNBC host Chris Hayes played the clip during an interview with Sanders, both men chuckled before the Vermont senator delivered his sharp critique. "This is [President Donald Trump's] economic adviser, God help us all," Sanders declared, highlighting the disconnect between administration rhetoric and economic reality.
The Real-World Impact on American Consumers
Sanders elaborated on the tangible consequences of rising fuel costs for ordinary Americans. "Here in the United States, you know, we're having 60 percent of our people living paycheck-to-paycheck," he explained. "And now what they're having to deal with is gas in Vermont, I think it's over four bucks a gallon, parts of the country, it's higher than that. And that means less money for food, less money to be able to pay the rent."
The senator connected the affordability crisis directly to Middle Eastern conflicts, noting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wars "have not only been grossly immoral and destructive, but they are also impacting billions of people throughout the world."
Administration's Mixed Messaging on War and Economy
Despite Hassett's wishful thinking, data from the American Automobile Association confirms Sanders' concerns. As of Wednesday morning, the average U.S. gas price stood at $4.11, with West Coast consumers paying significantly more due to war-related market disruptions.
The administration offered contradictory signals on Tuesday, with Trump telling Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo that the war is "very close" to ending, despite failed peace talks in Pakistan and similar unfulfilled promises from two weeks prior. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told the BBC that "a small bit of economic pain" was acceptable for long-term security, and Kansas Senator Roger Marshall told Newsmax viewers that "your national security is more important than your pocketbook."
Energy Secretary's Cautious Forecast
Energy Secretary Chris Wright provided a more tempered outlook at the Semafor World Economy summit in Washington, D.C., suggesting his earlier summer resolution forecast now appeared "aggressive." Wright acknowledged that "we're going to see energy prices, you know, high and maybe even rising, until we get meaningful ship traffic through the Straits of Hormuz," with peak prices potentially coming in the next few weeks.
In a concerning admission echoing Trump's previous comments, Wright stated there was "a very real possibility" that oil prices could rise further before improvement occurs.
Broader Economic Implications
Sanders criticized the administration's economic priorities, noting that "Trump's thought is that when we spend that money, we can cut back on healthcare and child care to pay for the war. Pretty crazy stuff." He estimated the conflict could ultimately cost a trillion dollars while exacerbating domestic affordability issues.
The International Monetary Fund reinforced these concerns on Tuesday, lowering its global growth outlook and warning that worsening conflict could push the world economy toward recession. With oil prices hovering near $100 per barrel and the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, the economic stakes continue to rise alongside political tensions.
