Letter to the editor: Iranflation

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 05.07.26

Donald Trump, who drove three casinos into bankruptcy, went to Las Vegas on April 16 to tout his “snake eyes” economy. Reading from a prepared script, he stopped abruptly at the phrase ‘corner store’ and exclaimed, “What’s a corner store? I’ve never heard that term. Who the hell wrote that?”

Corner stores are everywhere in NYC, where Trump grew up so rich he probably never needed one.

AAA reports that in January, before Trump attacked Iran, a gallon of regular cost $2.75. Today, it’s $4.23. Asked how long it would stay over $4, Trump, a billionaire, claimed gasoline prices “are not very high.”

Trump’s detachment from your pain at the pump was on full display when Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo asked if “the price of oil and gas will be lower before the midterm elections.” Trump breezily replied, “It could be. Or the same. Or maybe a little bit higher.”

A week later, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. Again. Fuel and fertilizer prices surged. Again. The International Energy Agency called it “the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.” Trump’s Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN’s Jake Tapper we might not see pre-war prices until 2027.

Our nightmare began when Trump let Israel’s Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu talk him into breaking off negotiations with Iran and launching a sneak attack. Netanyahu said he has “yearned” to “smite” Iran for 40 years.

Trump was warned that Iran could close the Hormuz Strait and hold 20% of the world’s oil supply hostage. He gambled that Iran’s regime would fall before then. Trump lost his bet and we’re paying for it. Inflation is higher than when Trump took office. Consumer confidence has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded. Two-thirds of Americans oppose Trump’s Iran war and his handling of the economy.

Trump might not know what a corner store is. He sure knows how to corner the market on bad bets.

Vince Amoroso

Sunset Beach