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President Trump Says Oil Prices Rose "Very Little" During War With Iran

President Trump said oil prices increased only slightly during the conflict with Iran, adding that he expected a larger move.

Fact Check
The claim that President Trump said oil prices rose 'very little' during the war with Iran, and that he expected a larger move, is very well supported. The original @WatcherGuru X post (the linked source) directly quotes Trump making this statement on May 15, 2026, and the PBS NewsHour article from May 14, 2026 corroborates the quote from a direct interview with Trump by correspondent Liz Landers. Dozens of independent X accounts retweeted the same quote, providing strong social corroboration. The claim is about what Trump said, not whether his characterization of oil prices is accurate. Notably, PBS NewsHour's own reporting from the same date ('U.S. gasoline prices rise 50% since the start of the Iran war') indicates that Trump's underlying assertion - that prices rose 'very little' - is factually inaccurate, as gasoline prices have risen approximately 50% since the conflict began. However, the specific claim being assessed (that Trump made this statement) is highly credible and well-documented.
Summary

President Trump said oil prices went up "very little" during the war with Iran and remarked, "I thought it would go up more." The statement points to a smaller-than-expected market reaction in oil despite geopolitical tensions, which often influence energy prices and can spill over into broader risk assets, including crypto markets.

Terms & Concepts
  • Risk assets: Investments such as cryptocurrencies and stocks that often react to shifts in market sentiment and macroeconomic uncertainty.
  • Geopolitical tensions: Political or military conflict between countries that can affect commodity prices, capital flows, and broader financial markets.