March 26, 2026 | 05:41 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As global energy prices climb following recent US military operations against Iran, Americans are reportedly cutting back on food and even skipping meals, US Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, linking the strain to both the conflict and domestic economic pressures under President Donald Trump.
“Americans are already skipping meals thanks to Trump’s reckless war of choice in Iran, and this is just another example of how his chaos is making it harder to afford food.,” Schumer wrote on X on Wednesday, March 25.
The senator’s remarks came in response to media reports indicating that US households are cutting back on food spending to cope with soaring fuel costs following Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
As new restrictions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—the US federal food assistance program for low-income households—take effect over the coming year, Schumer also explains that families with the lowest incomes are expected to face growing difficulties in affording basic groceries for their children amid rising prices.
On February 28, the United States and Israel carried out strikes on targets in Iran, including Tehran, causing significant damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East.
The escalation has led to a de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for crude oil and liquefied natural gas from Gulf countries to global markets.
The disruption has also affected oil production and exports in the region, driving energy prices even higher worldwide.
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