On Tuesday The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that inflation in April had risen 3.8% from last year, the highest level since May of 2023, and as President Trump took questions from the press before leaving the White House headed to China, he was asked about his negotiations with Iran, and if Americans paying higher prices was a motivating factor to make a deal.
We are at war, so his response, which was basically, I don't think about that, could be viewed as insensitive by those who were not provided with the full question to him, and as you might expect, most of the nightly network newscasts did not present that complete question.
The President was asked, "When you are negotiating with Iran, Mr. President, (to) what extent (are) Americans' financial situations motivating you to make a deal? The CBS Evening News probably did the worst job in presenting the story fairly, with Correspondent Kelly O'Grady handling the honors.
O'GRADY: Consumers saw a jump and a sharp jump in prices last month. Airfares drove a decent portion of that. Of course jet fuel costs are soaring just as the summer travel starts to pick up. And it's not just the optional purchases that are getting more expensive. Essentials are rising, too.
She then led into Trump's comments, in a most misleading way, without playing the actual question, or his full answer.
O'GRADY: The war with Iran is impacting prices here at home, but this afternoon, President Trump said he isn't backing down.
TRUMP CLIP: I don't think about American's financial situation. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing. We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.
Her intro to the clip made it seem as though Trump gratuitously brought up the tough financial situation of many Americans and coldly dismissed them. The question to Trump was not played, neither was his entire answer and therefore, no accurate context was provided.
Over on ABC's World News Tonight, Chief Business Correspondent Rebecca Jarvis offered only a slightly more honest job in her introduction to the Trump clip with, "President Trump rejecting the idea that the pain Americans are feeling from inflation will influence his negotiations with Iran."
Again, the actual question to Trump could have been played but wasn't. However, unlike CBS's O'Grady, she did provide some context to the President's statement.
The reporter's question, as well as all of Trump's answer was played over on NBC's Nightly News with Tom Llamas, who is in China and did the report himself.
LLAMAS: And there's new urgency tonight. With higher gas prices pushing U.S. Inflation to 3.8%, now at its highest levels since 2023.
REPORTER QUESTION : When you are negotiating with Iran, Mr. President, (to) what extent (are) Americans' financial situations motivating you to make a deal?
TRUIMP CLIP: The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about Americans financial situation. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing, you cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.
How hard was that to do? Why couldn't ABC and CBS do the same? The PBS NewsHour had a great opportunity and blew it. Correspondent Stephanie Sy presented a social media post from a high-level Iranian official, which proves that Trump's answer to the reporter's question is the only answer that a leader in his position can give.
SY: Iranian officials said they were ready to resume talks, but not to acquiesce. Iran's Parliament Speaker posted on X "the longer they dragged their feet, the more American taxpayers will pay for it."
She then totally misrepresented the question asked to the President, "The President was asked about the rising prices outside the White House."
No, no, no. Again, he was asked, "When you are negotiating with Iran, Mr. President, (to) what extent (are) Americans' financial situations motivating you to make a deal?" And he gave the only answer that he should and could give being that we are at war, and as the Iranian Speaker's post indicates, our enemy is well aware of this issue. Unfortunately, the nightly newscasts, for the most part, seemed more interested in making Donald Trump look bad. No real surprise.
