War With Iran Is Hitting American Wallets Hard — Especially at the Gas Pump

For millions of American families, the ongoing U.S. military conflict with Iran isn't just a foreign policy story — it's showing up in their bank accounts every time they fill up a gas tank, buy groceries, or book a ride to work. A new poll reveals just how widely that financial pain has spread, and the Americans feeling it most are speaking out.

A joint poll from ABC News, The Washington Post, and Ipsos found that 4 in 10 Americans say they are worse off financially now than when President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2025. Nearly a quarter of those surveyed said they are actively falling behind on their finances. Half of all Americans expect gas prices to climb even higher over the next twelve months.

Everyday Costs Are Squeezing Family Budgets

The numbers in the poll tell part of the story, but the real picture comes from the people living it. Jacob Olson, a 28-year-old from Beebe, Arkansas, lost his job as a warehouse manager after the solar company he worked for went bankrupt. He now makes custom wood projects — storage racks and similar items — as a self-employed craftsman. That means driving to customers, and with gas prices where they are, every trip cuts into his bottom line. He and his partner recently welcomed their second child.

"I don't really do anything, you know, for leisure or luxury anymore. It's all kind of just getting the bills paid ... I have a 1-year-old, and I just had another baby about a month ago, so I've got two little ones, and every day it's getting harder." — Jacob Olson, Beebe, Arkansas

When asked how he's managing, Olson summed it up plainly: "One day at a time. One foot in front of the other. ... That's about the way to sum it up."

Brenda Howard, 66, from Lubbock, Texas, faces a different version of the same problem. She doesn't own a car and depends on rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft to get to her job as a cleaner and to run basic errands. A single trip to the grocery store now costs her around $30 in rideshare fees — money that comes directly out of a fixed budget.

"This is not the way I thought my retirement was gonna turn out. I never dreamed that it would be a day-to-day struggle, sometimes hour to hour." — Brenda Howard, Lubbock, Texas

Martha Davis, 66, lives in Tool, Texas, and works as a caretaker for her disabled son. Getting to medical appointments sometimes means driving up to 60 miles from home — a trip that used to be manageable.

"I used to get back and forth on like $20, $25, but now it's almost 70 bucks." — Martha Davis, Tool, Texas

Why Are Gas Prices So High Right Now?

The spike in fuel costs is closely tied to disruptions in the global oil supply chain caused by the war. Iran responded to U.S. military action by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that is one of the world's most critical routes for moving oil. Roughly 20 percent of all oil traded globally normally flows through that strait. When that passage gets disrupted, the effects ripple outward quickly — and American consumers feel them at the pump.

The poll found that more than 4 in 10 Americans have already changed their behavior because of fuel costs. Forty-four percent said they have cut back on how much they drive, 42 percent have reduced other household expenses to compensate, and 34 percent have altered or canceled travel and vacation plans. Among households earning less than $50,000 a year, those numbers are even higher — more than half said they have cut driving and reduced spending on household basics.

Americans Are Split on the War — But United on the Financial Pain

The poll found that 61 percent of Americans believe the decision to go to war with Iran was a mistake. But even some who support the president say they're feeling the pinch. Andy Breedlove, 51, from West Virginia, said he believes Trump is doing a good job overall, even while acknowledging that gas prices are too high.

"But with the price of everything else, it kind of evens out a little." — Andy Breedlove, West Virginia

Breedlove, who is not currently working due to a disability, expects gas prices to keep rising as long as the conflict continues.

Jim Piper, 36, from Portage, Indiana, also lives on a fixed income due to a disability. He said he has been doing worse financially since the start of Trump's second term, though he attributes the problem to political gridlock in Washington rather than any single policy decision.

"I got to pay more, even though I'm not making more." — Jim Piper, Portage, Indiana

Christopher Mosley, 43, a former Walmart employee from Fort Smith, Arkansas, described Trump as "reckless" on foreign policy. Olson, the Arkansas woodworker, raised concerns about how the conflict has been explained to the public.

"He hasn't made a clear statement on why ... we're actually participating at all. From what I know, there's been a lot of just lying and, you know, not being transparent, and ... a big lack of professionalism, which I don't appreciate coming from the president." — Jacob Olson

President Trump's own statements on gas prices have shifted over time. In early April, he suggested prices might hold steady or increase before the midterm elections. By May 1, he said prices would come "tumbling down" once the conflict ended. Iran is currently reviewing a U.S. proposal aimed at ending the war, according to a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry.

The financial strain felt by voters across party lines has drawn attention to the upcoming midterm elections, where the economic mood of the country could play a significant role in which direction voters lean. For many Americans right now, the question isn't abstract — it's how much it costs to get to work, feed their families, and keep the lights on.