President Trump’s Director of the National Economic Council of the United States Kevin Hassett is being criticized for saying if the war against Iran were to be extended that “it wouldn’t really disrupt the US economy very much at all.”
Hassett added that a longer war “would hurt consumers, and we’d have to think about, you know, if that continued, what we’d have to do about that, but that’s really the last of our concerns right now because we’re very confident that this thing is going ahead of schedule.”
Note: Hassett echoed the President’s claims that the war will be over in weeks not months, and added that the U.S. economy is “still fundamentally strong,” even though gas prices have surged (the national average hitting roughly $3.60–$3.80 per gallon) driven by Middle East conflict disrupting oil supplies.
According to AAA, “Brent crude oil prices breached $100/barrel, driving the fastest weekly price hike in recent memory, with higher prices expected to continue during the spring.”
Hassett: “If the war were to be extended, it wouldn’t really disrupt the US economy very much at all. It would hurt consumers, and we’d have to think about what we’d have to do about that, but that’s really the last of our concerns right now.” pic.twitter.com/PVr63QO9Iv
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 17, 2026
Hassett’s assertion that a longer war would hurt consumers, causing pain that would be dealt with “if that continued,” rang hollow to those already experiencing its impact.
Navy veteran and blogger Jared Ryan Sears responded to Hassett’s comments on X, writing: “It has been clear all along that consumers, aka the American public, are the least of this administration’s concerns. Fits right in with claiming that affordability is a hoax, as Americans are draining their 401ks and savings trying to stay afloat. Pretending the economy is good is a joke. Instead of creating jobs, the US has been losing jobs over the past 10 months, and GDP growth was just 0.7% last quarter. Trump has ruined the economy.”
Creative Planning CEO and influential financial advisor Peter Mallouck shared a Financial Times report and line graph (below), and added: “This is 100% completely unsustainable as a society. Nearly 50% of all consumer spending now comes from the top 10% of earners. The bottom 80%? Their share keeps falling. This is why the economy can look strong in the data while millions of people feel like they’re falling behind.”
This is 100% completely unsustainable as a society.
Nearly 50% of all consumer spending now comes from the top 10% of earners.
The bottom 80%?
Their share keeps falling.
This is why the economy can look strong in the data while millions of people feel like they’re falling… pic.twitter.com/62mxzT7KWx
— Peter Mallouk (@PeterMallouk) March 16, 2026
Democrat influencer Sarah Ironside criticized the Trump administration more broadly when she wrote: “They just don’t even bother trying to hide their disdain for the American people anymore.”