Republicans Scramble After Trump Says He Doesn’t Think About Americans

Republicans are scrambling to either justify or ignore President Trump’s shocking Tuesday admission that he doesn’t care “even a little bit” about the financial struggles of American citizens. Journalist Pablo Manríquez asked multiple GOP senators about the president’s comments about 90 minutes after he said them—plenty of time for members of Congress to react. “What do you think of Donald Trump saying he doesn’t think about the finances or the financial situation of the American people?” Manríquez asked Senator Cynthia Lummis. “Did he say that? I don’t have a comment about that, mostly because I think he actually does care,” she replied with a laugh, claiming that the president didn’t mean something he doubled down on publicly. > Republicans already being pressed on Trump’s comments: > > PabloReports: What do you make of Trump saying that he doesn’t think about the financial situation of the American people? > > Senator Lummis: Did he say that? I don’t have a comment because I think he actually does care. pic.twitter.com/BzptOHbOc9 > > — Acyn (@Acyn) May 12, 2026 Senator Roger Marshall, also smiling, refused to answer as well, claiming he didn’t know the “context” of the comment. And Senator Susan Collins stated she didn’t see the president’s comment at all. > Republican senators already dodging questions on Trump’s statement: > > PabloReports: Any comment on what Trump said? He said he doesn’t think about the finances of the American people. > > Senator Roger Marshall: I would have to find out the context. I’m sorry. pic.twitter.com/FoFfmoZZs6 > > — Acyn (@Acyn) May 12, 2026 > Another Republican reluctant to comment on Trump’s statement: > > PabloReports: Any comment on Trump saying he doesn’t think about the financial situation of the American people? > > Senator Susan Collins: I didn’t see that. pic.twitter.com/wGqJAmiHyt > > — Acyn (@Acyn) May 12, 2026 For the record, Trump’s comments were crystal clear. “When you’re negotiating with Iran, Mr. President, to what extent are Americans’ financial situations motivating you to make a deal?” a reporter asked Trump before he left for China on Tuesday, alluding to the skyrocketing inflation caused by the fallout from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and Lebanon. “Not even a little bit,” Trump said. “The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran is 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: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all. That’s the only thing that motivates me.”