DeSantis Rips GOP for Blaming Biden Instead of Acknowledging Iran War

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (VINnews) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized fellow Republicans Tuesday for downplaying rising gasoline prices, saying the U.S. conflict with Iran is directly hurting working-class Americans and warning that voters will not accept excuses. In an interview with SiriusXM host Stephen A. Smith on Straight Shooter with Stephen A., DeSantis said Republicans should stop blaming former President Joe Biden or dismissing the financial strain caused by higher fuel costs.

“Gas is higher. It hurts people, working-class people, and it’s higher because of the Iran conflict,” DeSantis said. “If you can’t admit that to voters, then you’re gaslighting them, and they’re not going to listen to you on other things.”

The remarks, part of an Election Eve interview published Tuesday, put DeSantis at odds with Republicans who have sought to defend President Donald Trump’s handling of the war while minimizing its economic consequences.

DeSantis also directly criticized Trump’s decision to enter another Middle East conflict, noting that the president campaigned on avoiding such a war.

“Trump obviously ran saying he wasn’t going to do a Middle East war. He did,” DeSantis said.

He argued that the political consequences might have been different if the military operation had ended quickly, comparing it with the U.S. operation in Venezuela.

“Had that been wrapped up in like a week, like Venezuela was very quick, it probably wouldn’t have been an issue right now,” he said.

Instead, DeSantis described the Iran conflict as open-ended, saying its economic impact is becoming increasingly visible to Americans at the gas pump.

He warned that a prolonged war could seriously damage Trump’s ability to govern and hurt Republicans in future elections.

“If it drags on for the rest of his presidency, it’s going to be devastating to his ability to get anything done, and it is going to be very, very difficult for Republicans in the next cycle,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis also pointed to broader inflation and frustration with Washington, saying Republican candidates are facing political headwinds while Democrats have gained momentum.

“Our candidates are running into the wind on that, and the Democrats have more momentum,” he said.

The national average for regular gasoline stood at approximately $4.15 per gallon Tuesday, according to AAA, compared with about $2.98 before the conflict began in late February. Florida’s average was approximately $3.86.

The higher prices have become a political liability for Republicans heading into Tuesday’s midterm elections, with the economy, inflation and the Iran war among the issues weighing on voters.

Trump has defended the higher energy costs as a necessary consequence of the military campaign, arguing that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon outweighs the temporary financial burden on Americans.

DeSantis, whose second term as Florida governor ends in January 2027, has increasingly acknowledged the political risks facing Republicans as the administration grapples with the economic consequences of the conflict.

Despite his criticism, DeSantis has continued to urge Republicans to support GOP candidates, arguing that Democrats’ energy policies would lead to even higher costs.