This Oct. 20, 2026, Op-Ed by CAMERA’s Darcie Grunblatt appeared in The Jerusalem Post.
Illustrative of the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, January 27, 2026. Mehr News Agency, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Who could ignore the constant drumbeat of newscasters, politicians, and voters lamenting the cost of gas at the pump?
A month before the war began in February 2026, a gallon of regular gasoline cost about $2.80, according to the US Energy Information Administration. By October, the price had climbed above $4.30, though it briefly dipped to about $3.70 in July.
With the midterm elections drawing near, voters have made fuel costs a top concern, blaming US President Donald Trump for the war’s effect on prices. Commentators, including Ali Velshi and Christiane Amanpour, have branded the conflict Trump’s “war of choice” while discussing its costs.
Read the rest of CAMERA’s Op-Ed at JPost.