Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is urging fellow Republicans, including President Trump, to level with voters about the Iran war and high gas prices, warning that pretending otherwise has left some of the party’s own voters “checked out.”
DeSantis made the comments Monday night on the “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.” podcast with host Stephen A. Smith, on the eve of midterm elections widely expected to be tough for Republicans.
“So here’s the thing with Iran and why I think it’s been a big, big drag,” DeSantis said.
He said some Republican voters have tuned out because they did not want another war in the Middle East. Trump campaigned on avoiding new foreign conflicts.
DeSantis argued the war would likely not be a major issue if it had ended quickly. He pointed to the swift U.S. operation in Venezuela as a contrast.
Instead, he said, the Iran conflict has become open-ended and is hitting Americans directly in their wallets at the gas pump and through higher energy bills.
The Florida governor took aim at Republicans who have downplayed the pain, including those who have blamed former President Joe Biden for high prices.
“Gas is higher. It hurts people, working-class people,” DeSantis said, adding that prices are higher because of the conflict.
“If you can’t admit that to voters, then you’re gaslighting them,” he said, warning that voters will stop listening on other issues.
DeSantis also raised the question of what comes after Election Day. He said Trump has been advised that the war could drag on for the rest of his presidency, and asked what will be done after the midterms to bring the conflict to a close.
He is not the only Republican sounding the alarm. House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain told Axios she doesn’t think gaslighting works. Texas Senate nominee Ken Paxton privately told donors that the war, gas prices and diesel were weighing on voters, according to audio obtained by Axios.
DeSantis flagged the issue earlier this year, telling reporters in Tampa that gas prices are what people are most sensitive about.
Trump has defended the higher energy costs as a necessary consequence of the military campaign, arguing that stopping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon outweighs the temporary burden on Americans. On Monday, he touted a sharp one-day drop in oil prices and predicted relief at the pump.
Inflation is running at 3.7% annually, up from 3% when Trump’s second term began, according to the Associated Press. Voters have ranked the economy, the Iran war and gas prices among their top issues.
DeSantis challenged Trump unsuccessfully for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and could run again in 2028.
Voters head to the polls Tuesday with control of both chambers of Congress at stake.
