Jim Desmond Supported The Iran War Even As He Acknowledged Gas Prices Would Increase Because Of It, Saying “No Pain No Gain”

April 2026: Desmond Said He Supported Trump’s Effort To “Take On Iran”

Speaking To The San Diego Union-Tribune, Desmond Said Of Trump, “I Support The Fact That Somebody Had To Step Up And Take On Iran.” “Despite the district’s newly Democratic tilt, Desmond isn’t shying away from his support for Trump. In an interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune, he endorsed some of Trump’s more controversial efforts — including ending birthright citizenship. ‘I support the fact that he shut down the border. I support the fact that he’s trying to lower taxes. I support the fact that somebody had to step up and take on Iran,’ he said, though he noted Trump has ‘a different style than I do in dealing with issues.’” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/5/26]

Speaking On The Mark Larson Show, Desmond Said “Iran Has Been A Pain In The Back Side, You Know, For The Planet For The Last 47 Years And I’m Glad, You Know, The President Stood Up To That And Said, Hey, We're Not Going To Put Up With That Anymore.” DESMOND: “Well, I'm really glad to hear that the ceasefire has been declared. Hopefully, you know, the other side keeps their promises on that. But I think we all kind of, you know, breathed a sigh of relief. You know, the fact that nobody wants to see some civilization being wiped out. But you know, Iran has been a pain in the back side, you know, for the planet for the last 47 years. And I'm glad, you know, the president stood up to that and said, hey, we're not going to put up with that anymore. And you cannot have absolutely not any nuclear weapons. And I think that's the line in the sand that we got to keep. And I'm glad to hear that, as I’m sure everybody is, okay, is the sigh of relief that there's opportunity for talks and hopefully a deal can be made.” [Mark Larson Show, 9:15, 4/7/26] (AUDIO)

March 2026: In Discussing The Effect Of The Iran War On Oil Prices, Desmond Said, “No Pain No Gain”

VIDEO: March 2026: In Discussing The Effect Of The War In Iran On Oil Prices, Desmond Said, “No Pain No Gain.” HOST: “So we’ve got combat operations, not war right, combat operations, in Iran. They’re in their second week now. President Trump has warned that the Supreme Leader’s not going to last long. It’s not an idle threat. I’m curious to get your take on the situation right now because we’ve seen oil at over $100 a barrel and possibly climbing even higher. Good morning.” DESMOND: “Well good morning and it’s 72 and sunny in San Diego today again. But anyway, we have to, we have to not let Iran get a nuclear weapon. I mean we gotta keep our eye on the prize and why we’re here and why we’re doing this. Despite every Congress member would tell you, they do not want to have Iran to have a nuclear weapon, so we have to stop that. And this war didn’t just start a week ago or two weeks ago. It started 47 years ago when they took over our embassy and held Americans hostage for over a year, and it’s just been escalating time after time and we’re at the point where thank god we’re trying to take their nuclear capability out. We’ve got very focused, we’ve got very targeted assets that we’re trying to keep. We’re not bombing civilians. And this new Ayatollah that has come in, I agree is very weak, hasn’t been that charismatic, I don’t think he’s got the will of the people. You know, Iranians want freedom. Iranians, you know, do not want to be under these, under these thumb of these regimes. And I think, you know no pain no gain. So it’s unfortunate that oil prices are going up, but I do believe this is a spike. And President Trump is right. Once we are able to get rid of their nuclear capabilities, oil prices will come down again.” [Real America’s Voice, 08:10, 3/9/26] (VIDEO)

VIDEO: Desmond: “It’s Unfortunate That Oil Prices Are Going Up, But I Do Believe This Is A Spike.” DESMOND: “Iranians, you know, do not want to be under these, under these thumb of these regimes. And I think, you know no pain no gain. So it’s unfortunate that oil prices are going up, but I do believe this is a spike. And President Trump is right. Once we are able to get rid of their nuclear capabilities, oil prices will come down again.” [Real America’s Voice, 09:39, 3/9/26] (VIDEO)

VIDEO: Desmond: “We’ve Seen Our Gas Prices Have Been 4.50 And Above, And That’s Where We Started. Now We’re Going Up Because Of The Spike Here, Because Of The War.” DESMOND: “But unfortunately the state of California is not the example for the rest of the country. Our homeless numbers are up. We’ve got just as much fraud and abuse as Minnesota does. We’ve seen our gas prices have been 4.50 and above, and that's where we started. Now we’re going up because of the spike here, because of the war. There's just way too much government regulation. People and companies are leaving California.” [Real America’s Voice, 13:13, 3/9/26] (VIDEO)

Desmond Said Gas Prices Would Increase Because Of The War But Promised They Would Go Down After “This Iran Issue […] Goes Away”

AUDIO: Desmond Said Of Gas Prices Spiking Due To The Iran War, “It’s Going To Go Away Once The, You Know, This Iran Issue, You Know, Goes Away.” DESMOND: “Well, and, you know, despite this happening now, it’s going to go away once the, you know, this Iran issue, you know, goes away. So, you know what my colleagues, you know, don't talk about is the fact that in California, our gas prices are like $2 higher than any other places in the country. If you’ve driven, you’re going to Arizona, it's a couple bucks cheaper. And in Nevada and other places. And we've been, you know, doing this to ourselves and now it's, you know, bloody murder when the president's actions, you know, causes the gas prices to go up, when we just allowed it to happen in California. And we see even with our car registration fees and things like that, they keep taxing and taxing our automobiles. And you're right, they're trying to get us out of our cars into bicycles, which just isn't practical. But, you know, this spike, I think, is going to be going away. But the we've had these high gas prices for years. But, yes, we do need more energy, especially with these new AI sources, you know, popping up here and there. They're drawing a lot of energy. You know, we've got to be able to use, you know, other means and get nuclear back up on line, if we could do it safely.” [Mark Larson Show, 2:03, 4/7/26] (AUDIO)

• AUDIO: Desmond: “This Spike, I Think, Is Going To Be Going Away.” DESMOND: “Well, and, you know, despite this happening now, it’s going to go away once the, you know, this Iran issue, you know, goes away. So, you know what my colleagues, you know, don't talk about is the fact that in California, our gas prices are like $2 higher than any other places in the country. If you’ve driven, you’re going to Arizona, it's a couple bucks cheaper. And in Nevada and other places. And we've been, you know, doing this to ourselves and now it's, you know, bloody murder when the president's actions, you know, causes the gas prices to go up, when we just allowed it to happen in California. And we see even with our car registration fees and things like that, they keep taxing and taxing our automobiles. And you're right, they're trying to get us out of our cars into bicycles, which just isn't practical. But, you know, this spike, I think, is going to be going away. But the we've had these high gas prices for years. But, yes, we do need more energy, especially with these new AI sources, you know, popping up here and there. They're drawing a lot of energy. You know, we've got to be able to use, you know, other means and get nuclear back up on line, if we could do it safely.” [Mark Larson Show, 2:03, 4/7/26] (AUDIO)

May 2026: The Iran War Led To Higher Gas Prices With Californians Paying $1.50 More Per Gallon Since The War Began

NBC News: “The Iran War Has Led To Higher Prices At The Gas Pump.” “The Iran war has led to higher prices at the gas pump. Gas prices in the United States, up by 50% since the U.S. and Israel launched the war, have soared as the global oil supply constricts.” [NBC News, 5/22/26]

As Of May 22, 2026, The Price Of A Gallon Of Gas In California Increased By $1.50 Since The Iran War Began. [NBC News, 5/22/26]

Image: see original report, p. 6

[NBC News, 5/22/26]