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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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A Pennsylvania voter who said she backed President Donald Trump three times lashed out on national television over surging gas prices as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran continues to push fuel costs upward.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Newsweek: “What matters most to the American people is having a commander-in-chief who takes decisive action to eliminate threats and keep them safe."
Why It Matters
Rising fuel costs tied to the conflict with Iran, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury" by the White House, are testing public patience at home, even among some of Trump’s past supporters.
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Prolonged price spikes could complicate the president's economic message as midterms approach.
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What To Know
Frustration over higher gas prices spilled into public view during NBC's Meet the Press NOW on Tuesday, March 17, when senior national politics reporter Jonathan Allen spoke with voters in central Pennsylvania about the war with Iran and its economic fallout.
In Millersburg, about 25 miles north of Harrisburg, an area that sits inside Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District, former Trump voter Amanda Robbins delivered the segment's most striking moment when asked what she would say directly to the president.
"You are a worthless pile of s***," Robbins said. When reminded she had voted for Trump three times, she responded: "That was my bad. Apparently, I’m an idiot."
Allen noted that Robbins went on to criticize both the rising cost of living and the broader idea of the United States engaging in overseas wars, highlighting fractures within Trump's past coalition as economic pressures mount.
Pennsylvania’s 10th District, represented by Republican Scott Perry, has been closely watched in recent cycles. Trump carried it 52 percent to 47 percent in 2024.
At the time of the interviews, AAA listed Pennsylvania’s average regular gas price at $3.758 a gallon, up from $3.664 a week earlier and $3.108 a month earlier.
Despite the angry message from Robbins, many of the voters Allen spoke with said they supported the U.S. decision to strike Iran and were prepared to tolerate higher prices at the pump.
Some framed the cost as a necessary trade‑off for national security.
"It was a great decision," said Mike Purcell, a Pennsylvania resident, when asked about the strikes.
Pressed on whether higher gas prices were worth it, he replied that he was willing to pay more.
Others echoed that view, with Jim Matter saying Trump was "doing the right thing," and arguing that stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons justified the economic pain.
Kim Schaffner also voiced support, saying Americans had to "do what we gotta do to keep this country safe," even if it meant paying more for fuel in the short term.
A White House official told Newsweek that polling shows Trump’s decision to launch Operation Epic Fury is backed by a plurality of Americans, with especially strong support among Republicans and MAGA voters, including younger Republican men.
The official pointed to multiple surveys indicating that claims the operation would fracture Trump’s base are not supported by the data, citing polls from The Washington Post, NBC, YouGov and CNN showing broad Republican approval and overwhelming backing among self‑identified MAGA Republicans.
What People Are Saying
White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Newsweek: “What matters most to the American people is having a commander-in-chief who takes decisive action to eliminate threats and keep them safe, which is exactly what President Trump is doing with the ongoing successful Operation Epic Fury.
"President Trump campaigned proudly on his promise to deny the Iranian regime the ability to develop a nuclear weapon, which is what this noble operation is seeking to accomplish. The President does not make these incredibly important national security decisions based on fluid opinion polls, but on the best interests of the American people.”
A White House official told Newsweek: "Polling shows President Trump’s decision to launch Operation Epic Fury has Americans’ support—with MAGA and Republicans strongly supporting it.
"Despite some online commentators with large followings publicly disagreeing with the President’s decision—and many legacy media outlets eagerly highlighting their comments to try and sow division—the MAGA base is not wavering one bit. These commentators claiming this will somehow fracture the president’s support are not backed by or reflected in the polling data."
Clifford Young, chair of public affairs and strategic insights at Ipsos, argued that prolonged high costs would undermine Republican messaging: "It just blows up everything. The affordability agenda gets torpedoed from the Republican point of view."
President Donald Trump: "When this is over, oil prices are going to go down very, very rapidly. So is inflation. So is everything else.
"But frankly, much more important than short-term or even long-term oil prices: You cannot let the most violent, vicious country in the last 50 years have a nuclear weapon because the Middle East will be gone. Israel will go first, without question, and they will certainly take a shot at us."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: "The president's utmost responsibility right now as commander-in-chief is to ensure the continued success of Operation Epic Fury."
What Happens Next
Attention will remain fixed on fuel prices as the conflict continues and supply risks persist in global energy markets.
How long voters remain willing to absorb higher costs may shape turnout, campaign messaging, and congressional races heading into the midterms.
Update 3/18/26, 9:31 a.m. ET. This article was updated with a new White House statement and background information.
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