Trump’s Iran Deal Splits GOP as Gas Prices Drop Below $4
President Donald Trump’s nuclear deal with Iran has opened significant new divisions within the Republican Party, with prominent conservatives accusing the president of being too lenient on Tehran after a costly 110-day war. At the same time, U.S. gas prices have dipped below $4 per gallon for the first time since March, a development tied directly to the agreement and increased global oil supply. A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds that most Americans hold negative views on both Trump and the economy heading into the summer, with midterm elections looming.
The Deal That Divided a Party
On Wednesday, June 17, Trump signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France. The agreement calls for an immediate and permanent end to military operations, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a 60-day window to negotiate a final comprehensive deal. But the terms — including a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran and the termination of all U.S. sanctions — have sparked fierce criticism from within Trump’s own party.
Outgoing Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy was the most vocal critic, calling the deal “the worst foreign policy blunder in decades” and declaring that “Reagan is rolling over in his grave,” as The Guardian reported. Cassidy noted that before the war, “the strait was open, Iran was being crushed by sanctions, and 13 service members were still alive.” Cassidy lost his Senate primary last month after Trump intervened against him, lending weight to his critique.
Senator Ted Cruz warned that elements of the deal appeared “ill-advised,” cautioning that “giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is a bad idea.” Senator Thom Tillis expressed concern about the $300 billion reconstruction fund, saying, “I’m not interested in just an agreement that gets us through two and a half years.”
Senator Lindsey Graham initially voiced skepticism but shifted to a more supportive position after a “very lengthy and productive” conversation with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, saying he saw “little downside to trying.”
Gas Prices Finally Fall
On Thursday, the average U.S. gas price fell to $3.999 per gallon, according to AAA — the first time below $4 since March, as AP News reported. The drop follows a 15% decline in U.S. crude oil prices this month. Before the war, oil traded at $67 per barrel. It peaked above $120 during the conflict and has since fallen to about $80 after the deal announcement.
However, analysts caution that the relief at the pump may be temporary. It will take weeks or months for oil to flow normally through the Strait of Hormuz, and refineries typically pay for crude a month or more in advance, meaning cheaper oil won’t immediately translate to lower prices for consumers.
Polling Pain for the President
The NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, conducted June 8-11 among 1,340 respondents, paints a grim picture for the White House. Only 36% of Americans approve of Trump’s overall job performance, while 59% disapprove — the widest gap Trump has faced during either term. Just one-third of Americans approve of his handling of the economy, three points lower than the worst marks given to former President Joe Biden.
Notably, 22% of Republicans disapprove of Trump’s economic handling, and strong approval among Republicans dropped from 61% in April to 53% in June. Among independent voters, 64% disapprove of Trump’s performance. The erosion extends to key demographics: rural Americans, who gave Trump a net positive approval of 22 points in February 2025, are now 10 points underwater. Latinos disapprove by a roughly 2-to-1 margin.
Regina Kulenga, a 36-year-old Trump voter in Georgia, told NPR she was unsure if she would vote in the midterms, calling Trump’s actions “a slap in the face.” She said the economy is “a lot worse than what [it] was.”
Midterm Election Implications
With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Democrats show more enthusiasm to vote and see a path to regain control of both the House and Senate. The poll numbers suggest significant electoral vulnerability for the GOP, particularly as 45% of Americans say they won’t take a summer vacation this year, with half citing cost as the main reason.
What Comes Next
The MOU gives both sides 60 days to negotiate a final comprehensive agreement addressing Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile capabilities, and the long-term status of sanctions. Trump has threatened to resume bombing if Iran “misbehaves,” while critics argue the deal achieves less than the 2015 Obama-era JCPOA, which Trump himself withdrew from.
Matt Duss of the Center for International Policy noted that the U.S. appears to have arrived at a conclusion that should have been evident from the start: “Iran’s missile program is not negotiable because it sits at the very core of the regime’s security doctrine.”
Whether the MOU survives the caustic politics in both Washington and Tehran — and whether the relief at the gas pump proves lasting — remains to be seen. What is clear is that the Iran deal has reshaped the political landscape just months before voters head to the polls.