EDINBURG, TEXAS — President Donald Trump campaigned in North Carolina on Wednesday, defending higher fuel costs as a strategic necessity during the ongoing conflict with Iran. The national average for a gallon of gas reached $4.48 on Friday, reflecting a sharp increase that has become a central issue for voters.

Trump said of the war, which he describes as critical to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, that the higher fuel costs are a very inexpensive price to pay for what has been done, and that it is a little more, and frankly, even if it was a lot more, it should be remembered.

The current pump prices represent a significant rise from recent levels. The national average is up roughly 17 cents over the last week and 40 cents in a month. Compared to a year ago, the average price has increased by $1.27.

Voter sentiment regarding the economy has shifted alongside these price increases. A Fox News survey released Wednesday found that nearly two-thirds of voters (63%) say the administration has made the economy worse. This marks an increase from September 2025, when 52% of voters held that view.

The poll also indicated that 61% of voters say gas prices are a major problem for their household. This figure represents a rise of 13 percentage points from two years ago, when 48% of voters identified gas prices as a major household problem. By a 15 percentage point margin, Democrats are considered the party that would better handle inflation and prices, according to the survey.

Brittney Bivins, a 45-year-old teacher in Raleigh, North Carolina, described herself as an independent but said she is eager to support Democrats this fall, especially the party's emerging democratic socialist wing. According to clickorlando.com, Bivins sees surging gas prices as evidence that Trump and his Republican Party aren't dealing with the issues that matter most to people like her.

Other voters expressed mixed reactions to the economic conditions. Quinten Martinez, a 28-year-old Amazon delivery driver, shook his head when asked about Trump's assertion that higher gas prices are a small price to pay for the war with Iran. Rina Risper spent $50 on 8 gallons of premium gas at a gas station in Lansing, Michigan, and thinks Trump's tariffs will make affordability worse.

Some Trump supporters remain committed to the Republican Party despite the costs. Dan Lloyd, a 63-year-old carpenter who voted for Trump, paid $4.39 a gallon to fill up his pickup truck in Mesa, Arizona. Lloyd expects to vote Republican in the midterms.

Garth Johnson, a 35-year-old who runs a deep-cleaning business in central Michigan and voted for Trump, noted that diesel fuel cost $6.79 a gallon as he filled up his SUV. His business uses several gas-powered vehicles and one machine fueled by diesel.

Kristin Jimenez, a 52-year-old mother who runs a small business, plans to vote for a Republican because they are the "lesser of two evils." In contrast, Alan Johnson, a 60-year-old engineer, cast ballots in the morning for Democrats for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.

The Fox News survey found that more than three times as many voters say they are falling behind financially as getting ahead. Healthcare costs also remain a concern, with 52% of voters saying they are a major problem for their household, up from 44% in 2024. Among Republicans, 46% say the administration has improved the economy, while one-quarter say it has made the economy worse.