Voters sent an unmistakable message in the midterms: the Iran war and the energy disruptions it caused imposed real costs on American families and small businesses. Gasoline averaged under $3 a gallon before the February strikes, climbed above $4.50, and only this week fell back below $4, still a record for November. Diesel remains above $6. Brent crude has swung sharply with every threat to the Strait of Hormuz. Ending the Iran war is the single fastest way to deliver relief at the pump, reassert America First priorities, and seize the cost-of-living issue from the Democrats who will soon control both chambers of Congress.
1. End the Iran War now and stop further escalation.
The president’s recent statement that further strikes on Iran are unnecessary was the right call. Now he should finish the job. Iran’s nuclear program has been set back years, and the regime is weaker militarily and financially. Negotiate an exit, restore reliable oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and remove the war premium that has driven gasoline and diesel higher. As I explained in my November 6 American Greatness article, this means ignoring calls for endless escalation and focusing on an honorable end to the war that prioritizes American interests over open-ended conflict. Markets already responded to de-escalation signals—Brent crude oil futures fell below $90 on recent comments that the war could end soon. But markets also punish mixed signals—Brent jumped back above $94 on Thursday after the president said the U.S. doesn’t need a deal with Iran. Ending the war would quickly lower prices for the U.S. economy, undercut Democratic attacks on energy costs, and let the administration claim credit for the relief voters demanded. Speed also matters: congressional Democrats are weighing whether to use the December 11 government funding deadline to force an end to the war. If the president ends it first, he gets the credit. President Trump should pair this with personnel changes that signal his seriousness about ending, not expanding, this war.
2. Pass an energy abundance package in the lame-duck session and dare the new Democratic Congress to oppose cheaper fuel.
The Senate has already advanced the bipartisan permitting bill, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, 73-25, and the House is moving nuclear licensing bills. The president should press House Democrats to pass both before January 3 rather than hold out for a “better” bill next year. He should also push additional legislation now to expand domestic oil, gas, and coal production, speed permits for pipelines and LNG, and accelerate nuclear builds. Whatever does not pass should be reintroduced in January to force the new Democratic majorities to explain why they block measures that would keep U.S. output at record levels (already near 14 million barrels per day of crude) and lower utility and pump prices. This seizes the initiative on an issue Democrats used against Republicans: put the burden on them to choose between ideology and household budgets. Lock this in with long-term leasing, multi-year production targets, and binding timelines so future administrations cannot easily reverse course through executive orders.
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