Interior Secretary Doug Burgum faced criticism for what some label as “spin” during a satellite interview from the GOP midterm convention on Wednesday. The discussion centered on the rising gas prices under President Donald Trump, especially in the context of his conflict with Iran.
“From an energy standpoint, let’s just talk about natural gas,” Burgum told Newsmax host Rob Schmitt from the American Airlines Center in Dallas. “Three dollars was what it was in the United States. It’s now 20% below that in parts of our country.”
Burgum continued to praise Trump for this apparent achievement. Although natural gas prices are below $3, the national average price of gasoline as of Thursday stands at a significant $4.27, partly due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz linked to Trump’s military actions.
Schmitt interjected, saying: “Yeah, we have $100 a barrel oil right now, or that’s what it hit today, though. And there’s a lot of great things to talk about, the convention is loaded with them. We’ve talked about it the whole show, but we’ve been trying to get gas cheaper.”
Schmitt added: “And that’s more difficult than we thought. Are you worried that these oil prices will continue, as the secretary of the interior? I know you’re in your personal capacity, but that’s not a good thing, going into an election, to have gas this expensive.”
Burgum then responded with what one social media critic termed “Pyongyang style” praise.
“Well, it isn’t, but it’s a much better thing to make sure that we don’t have a terrorist group with a nuclear weapon,” he said to Schmitt. “The IRGC was so close to having a nuclear weapon. President Trump has basically stopped World War III, saved the world.”
There is uncertainty regarding how close the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was to developing a nuclear weapon, despite Trump’s earlier claims. The president had stated in June that Iran’s key nuclear facilities were “obliterated.”
Trump provided various reasons for initiating the war, some of which were contradictory. A memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran in June indicated that Trump had not achieved any of his four main objectives.
Burgum’s effusive praise did not resonate with all critics, with one noted: “$100 oil staring at him right in the face and Burgum hits the emergency Trump saved the world button. Even Newsmax wasn’t buying the spin. What exactly did Trump save us from?”
The conflict with Iran has resulted in the deaths of at least 18 U.S. military service members and over 3,000 Iranians, including many children killed in a school airstrike. The war has also led to rising food and gas prices and heightened fears of a global energy crisis.
