Interior Secretary Doug Burgum suggested that President Trump "basically saved the world" by preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, a claim made while discussing energy prices at the GOP midterm convention. Burgum made the statement in response to questions about rising gasoline costs during a Newsmax interview.
When host Rob Schmitt noted that oil prices had reached $100 a barrel and that the administration was struggling to lower gas prices, Burgum shifted the focus to natural gas prices, stating they were below $3 per unit in some parts of the country. However, the national average price for gasoline was reported to be $4.27 per gallon.
Schmitt pressed Burgum on whether he was concerned about the impact of high oil prices on the upcoming election. Burgum responded by saying, "it’s a much better thing to make sure that we don’t have a terrorist group with a nuclear weapon. The IRGC was so close to having a nuclear weapon. President Trump has basically stopped World War III, saved the world."
Critics have questioned the accuracy of Burgum's assertion about Iran's nuclear program proximity, referencing previous statements by Trump himself that Iran's key nuclear facilities had been "obliterated." Burgum's defense of Trump's energy policies and his claim of averting global conflict were met with skepticism, particularly in light of the ongoing war in Iran, which has been linked to increased energy costs, military casualties, and a significant number of civilian deaths. The conflict has also reportedly resulted in high food and gas prices and raised fears of a global energy crisis.