Mike Johnson

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Wednesday moved to clarify President Donald Trump's comments that Americans' financial concerns are not driving his Iran policy, saying the president's singular focus on stopping Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon ultimately protects U.S. security and economic stability.

Trump was asked Tuesday before departing for China whether Americans' rising cost of living is motivating him to reach a deal with Iran. Gas prices are averaging $4.51 a gallon, according to AAA, and inflation has risen to 3.8% amid economic fallout from the conflict that escalated after the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military operation Feb. 28 targeting Iran's political leadership and military infrastructure.

"Not even a little bit," Trump said bluntly. "The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about Americans' financial situations. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That's all. That's the only thing that motivates me."

Johnson was asked at a news conference Wednesday on Capitol Hill about Trump's comments regarding Americans' financial situations and whether that is the right message.

"I don't know the context in which he made that comment, but I can tell you the president thinks about Americans' financial situations," Johnson said. "I talk to him on average two times a day, sometimes three or four times a day, and we talk about it constantly.

"He's laser-focused on trying to resolve the conflict in Iran because when we get the Strait of Hormuz reopened, that will alleviate a lot of pressure with gas prices and other things in the economy."

The U.S. and Iran are in a standoff over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that is a vital chokepoint for the world's oil and natural gas trade. The U.S. has enforced naval restrictions on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports in the strait, and Iran has attacked commercial vessels trying to transit the waterway.

Johnson said the conflict with Iran has put a damper on gains made by Republicans in repairing economic damage from the Biden administration, highlighting tax cuts and reforms from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

"As soon as that's resolved, I agree with the Treasury secretary. I agree with the president. You're going to have an alleviation of the pain at the pump and you're going to have prices come down overall and we're very much looking forward to that," Johnson said.

"As you know, other economic indicators are going very, very well. The jobs numbers, unemployment numbers, the stock market, all these other factors. So as soon as we get gas prices back under control, we alleviate that pain.

"I can tell you the president is laser-focused on it. He spends a large part of everyday working to resolve this."