JD Vance concedes gas prices could stay high indefinitely as war drags on

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Sep 3, 2026

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Vice President JD Vance Thursday warned that gas prices could stay high indefinitely and admitted there is no end in sight to the Iran war.

President Trump’s top lieutenant shrugged off Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s promises that Americans would be paying $3-a-gallon prices at the pump by Labor Day and blamed “crazy” Iran for extending the Middle East conflict beyond the administration’s previous expectations.

“He said ‘maybe by Labor Day.’ We’re talking about things that are fundamentally unpredictable,” Vance said. “The fundamental reality is the reason gas prices are high right now is that the Iranians are shooting at commercial shipping.”

“Gas, frankly, could’ve been much, much higher were it not for our efforts,” he added. “I’m not going to make a promise about when it’s going to return to $3.”

Vance delivered the White House briefing while the press secretary post remains unfilled after Karoline Leavitt’s departure.

The veep pointedly refused to predict when the conflict — which he insisted is not a “war” — would be over.

“When you ask me: ‘when will this end?’ you’re asking a question, like, ‘when will the Iranians stop shooting at ships?'” he said in answer to a question. “I think the reality is: I don’t know the answer to that question.

“We’re not going to set an artificial timeline,” he added, tossing out hypothetical timelines of three months and three days for ending hostilities once and for all.

Trump has repeatedly predicted the end of the war is right around the corner, even as it has drags on past the six-month mark with no end in sight.

Vance’s appearance is unlikely to ease the heartburn felt by Republican congressional candidates as the GOP seeks to hold onto control of Congress in the November midterms. Endangered GOP lawmakers would like to see the war over and gas prices dropping.

Gas prices today are hovering at a national average of just over $4 a gallon, which is an increase of about 35% since before the war and an all-time record for Labor Day weekend, when prices are normally in decline at the end of the summer driving season.

With inflation also stubbornly high, American voters are telling pollsters they are unhappy with Trump’s handling of the economy and the war in Iran.

Democrats lead most polls of the so-called generic ballot for the midterms and are considered favorites to win back the House and maybe the Senate too.

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