Trump Dismisses Energy Price Criticism at Florida Rally

Washington, October 31: Speaking at a rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, President Donald Trump doubled down on his administration's military action against Iran. He also pushed back against criticism of rising energy costs, pointing to what he described as a sharp increase in oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Trump, the United States has dismantled Iran's naval and air power. He said American operations had destroyed Tehran's nuclear enrichment capabilities and that Iran had been defeated across military, economic, and other domains.

“Now we are just making sure they never have a nuclear weapon,” the president said, expressing confidence that the goal could be accomplished with ease.

Trump disputed the notion that his administration began the war. Instead, he argued that Iran had launched the confrontation many years ago and had been in conflict with the United States since 1979.

On energy, Trump said critics were wrong to focus on prices. He claimed gasoline costs had dropped to levels well below those recorded under the previous Democratic administration. He also said considerably more oil is now passing through Hormuz than seven months ago.

Trump singled out Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who had questioned the expense of the Iran campaign. Khanna cited $25 billion in spending, the president said, while failing to acknowledge that the United States had earned nearly ten times that sum from Venezuela.

The remarks came after the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, following which Washington assumed control over the Venezuelan oil sector.