Trump Touts Lower Energy Prices, Strike Against ISIS In Nigeria
President Donald Trump said Friday that recent U.S. airstrikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria amounted to a “Christmas present” for the terrorist organization, while also touting falling gas prices and sharp reductions in drug trafficking as proof that his economic and security policies are delivering results for Americans.
Speaking on 77 ABC Radio, Trump addressed the strikes carried out a day earlier against ISIS camps following reports that the terror group had murdered Christians in Nigeria.
“They really got hit hard yesterday,” Trump said. “They got a bad Christmas gift.”
The president suggested the military action may have saved “tens, hundreds of thousands” of Christian lives, underscoring his administration’s willingness to act decisively to protect persecuted religious communities abroad.
Trump also pointed to U.S. operations against what he described as narco-terrorist boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, claiming the effort has produced dramatic results.
He said those strikes have led to a 97.2% reduction in drug trafficking, adding that aggressive enforcement and military pressure are finally curbing the flow of narcotics into the United States.
On the economic front, Trump argued that declining gasoline prices are effectively functioning as a tax cut for American families. According to the president, gas prices in a growing number of states have fallen below $2 per gallon, providing immediate relief to consumers still feeling the effects of years of inflation.
Addressing questions about U.S. military actions targeting oil tankers in the region and whether the strategy was intended to pressure Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro to step down — potentially opening access to Venezuelan oil — Trump said the situation involved multiple overlapping concerns.
“It’s about a lot of things,” he told host John Catsimatidis. “It’s about that. … They took our oil. They took it, and they also sent millions of people in here from jails, into our country … some of the worst people on Earth.
“They empty their jails into the United States. As you know, they sell, they send drugs in. And I don’t know if you know John, but drug traffic is down now by 97.2 percent.”
Meanwhile, public confidence in the economy has been bolstered by the Trump administration’s recent trade deals, according to a CNN report published over the summer.
Consumer confidence rose two points in July to a reading of 97.2, according to data released Tuesday by the Conference Board, suggesting Americans’ outlook on the economy has stabilized following a sharp spring decline. That earlier drop came after President Trump announced sweeping tariffs — a move widely criticized at the time by the media and self-styled economic “experts” who warned of price spikes and labor market damage.
Since then, confidence has rebounded modestly. The administration has delayed the implementation of some tariffs while finalizing trade agreements with seven countries, including China, the United Kingdom, and Japan, according to the report.
The Trump administration has also announced a framework for a trade agreement with the European Union, one of America’s largest trading partners, calling it the “biggest deal ever made.” The Conference Board survey, however, was conducted prior to July 20 and did not capture public reaction to the EU deal, CNN noted.
“Consumer confidence has stabilized since May, rebounding from April’s plunge, but remains below last year’s heady levels,” said Stephanie Guichard, senior economist of global indicators at The Conference Board.
“Tariffs remained top of mind and were mostly associated with concerns that they would lead to higher prices,” she added.
Those dire predictions have largely failed to materialize. Prices for key commodities, including food and gasoline, have either fallen or stabilized in recent months.
“Inflation has come into better balance this year — but signs of renewed price pressure are starting to emerge,” said Lauren Goodwin, economist and chief market strategist at New York Life Investments, in a note to clients cited by CNN.
“Goods prices in categories sensitive to trade policy — such as consumer electronics, apparel, and auto parts — have started to edge higher,” she said, adding that “steep tariffs often create visible economic pain – disrupting supply chains and suppressing demand.”
Still, Trump has repeatedly argued that short-term trade pressure is a necessary price for long-term economic independence, national security, and fair treatment of American workers — a message that appears to be resonating as consumer confidence steadies and gas prices fall.