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It was supposed to be a moment of presidential reassurance. Instead, Donald Trump's pre-departure press conference on May 12 turned into one of his most controversial public appearances in recent memory and the loudest criticism didn't come from Democrats.
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Before boarding his flight to China, the 79-year-old president stopped to address reporters on the White House lawn, fielding questions about America's military engagement with Iran. The situation has grown increasingly tense after Iran retaliated against U.S. missile strikes by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz a narrow but vital waterway through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply passes. The move sent shockwaves through global energy markets, pushing gas and oil prices sharply higher and unsettling an already fragile U.S. economy.
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"Oil Prices Will Drop" Trump's Promise Draws Skepticism
Despite the economic turbulence, Trump was in no mood for caution. Standing before cameras, he painted an almost utopian picture of what he claimed was just ahead.
"As soon as this war is over, which will not be long, you're going to see oil prices drop and you're going to see a stock market which is already at the highest point in history go through the roof. You're going to see the golden age of America," he declared.
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He also took a swipe at his predecessor, claiming inflation under his watch was minor compared to the Biden years. "Biden had the highest inflation in the history of our country," Trump said. "Our inflation is just short-term."
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For many watching at home, those words rang hollow. The cost of living is still biting hard, housing remains out of reach for millions, and now fuel prices are climbing again. The gap between Trump's optimism and everyday reality proved to be a breaking point for a lot of people including those who once stood firmly in his corner.
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"Not Even a Little Bit" The Line That Lit the Fuse
If Trump's economic promises stirred debate, one exchange with a reporter poured gasoline on the fire.
When asked directly how much the financial hardship of ordinary Americans was factoring into his approach to the Iran negotiations, Trump didn't hesitate.
"Not even a little bit," he said flatly.
The moment went viral almost instantly. For critics, it was a jarring confirmation of what they had long suspected that the concerns of working-class Americans barely register in the president's calculations. Even for loyal Trump supporters who had defended him through years of controversy, that answer hit differently.
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Fox News Viewers Erupt Online
Social media, including platforms popular with conservative audiences, lit up with anger. Fox News viewers not typically a crowd prone to criticizing the president were among the most vocal.
"He's such a delusional idiot. Why would anyone trust or believe what he says? Seriously?" one frustrated viewer posted.
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Another pointed to the deeper strategic miscalculation at play: "Iran has proven that it doesn't necessarily need nuclear weapons to inflict devastation when it's attacked. It only needs to be strong enough to close the Strait of Hormuz at will."
Perhaps the most telling comment came from someone lamenting the distance between the current Trump and the candidate who swept into office on promises of economic relief: "No one cares about the stock market. Prices are increasing. The housing market is horrible. Gas prices are high. Where is the 2016 Trump?"
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From the White House to Beijing
Hours after the press conference, Trump boarded Air Force One and touched down in China, where the reception was anything but hostile. Around 300 Chinese children dressed in blue and white greeted the American president on the tarmac, waving both U.S. and Chinese flags as they chanted a welcome in Mandarin.
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Trump was joined by his son Eric and daughter-in-law Lara as he stepped off the plane. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng was on hand to meet him, and the two walked side by side down a red carpet a moment that felt worlds away from the pressure cooker Trump had just left behind in Washington.
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Whether his China visit will yield results that eventually ease some of the economic strain at home remains to be seen. But back in the U.S., the questions his press conference raised aren't going away anytime soon.
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