Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) stated Sunday that while the U.S. economy is moving in a positive direction, middle-class and working-class families are facing difficult costs. Jordan made the comments during an appearance on Fox News’s "Sunday Morning Futures," where he defended the economic record of President Trump and House Republicans.
Jordan cited past tax cuts as evidence of successful economic policy, though he acknowledged the strain of current prices. During the interview, he criticized the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for their focus on affordability in the context of opposing the ongoing war in Iran. Jordan characterized the choice for voters in the upcoming November elections as "common sense versus the crazy on the Democrat left."
The lawmaker’s comments come amid data showing high public concern over living costs. A Marquette University Law School poll released earlier in August found that 35% of American adults rank inflation and the cost of living as their most important issue, followed by the economy at 15%. Additionally, a Harris Poll for The Guardian reported that 95% of U.S. adults believe the nation is in an affordability crisis, with 57% stating the economy is worsening.
Economic pressure has intensified over the six months since the conflict with Iran began. Iran’s repeated closures of the Strait of Hormuz—a transit point for approximately 20% of global oil and gas exports—have contributed to crude oil prices exceeding $100 per barrel. As of Saturday, Brent crude was trading above $88 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate was slightly over $82. AAA data showed the national average for gasoline at $4.07 per gallon on Sunday.
The scale of this issue is tied significantly to international conflict. The disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles one-fifth of the world’s petroleum supply, has pushed crude prices to levels that impact global energy markets. For an individual household, these shifts in the energy market manifest as higher utility bills and fuel costs. The Marquette University poll indicates that these financial pressures are weighing more heavily on the public than the war itself, which ranked as the top concern for only 10% of respondents.
For policy and political strategy, this environment sets a precedent for how candidates handle economic messaging during wartime. While President Trump has characterized the focus on affordability as a "hoax" by political opponents, other Republicans have expressed concern that these costs could complicate their platform for the fall midterms. Democrats, meanwhile, are citing affordability concerns to gain traction in local races. The next major indicator of how these factors influence public sentiment will be the November midterm elections, when voters will decide the makeup of the next Congress.