Gasoline prices in Wiggins, Colorado, have reached $4.34 per gallon, about 50% higher than last year when Donald Trump returned to the White House, according to local reports and polls [1, 2]. Nationally, prices have surpassed $4.50 per gallon amid the ongoing war with Iran [1, 2]. Nearly 8 in 10 Americans blame Trump for these higher fuel costs, and only 30% approve of his handling of the economy, based on a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in April and May 2026 [1, 2].
Despite the financial pain, many voters in rural Morgan and Weld counties, Colorado, remain staunchly supportive of Trump’s policy. Both counties have not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964 and delivered Trump a 49-point margin of victory in Morgan County in 2024 [1, 2].
Trump’s central goal in the Iran conflict is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, which he says outweighs Americans' financial struggles. "I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon," Trump said [1].
Local voters express mixed emotions about rising fuel costs but support Trump’s broader strategy. Amy Van Duyn from Wiggins said, "I used to fill my tank for $36. Now $36 gets me half a tank," highlighting the direct impact on household budgets [1]. Tonyah Bruyette added, "We’re putting it in the tank rather than on our table," emphasizing the trade-offs families make due to higher gas prices [1]. Yet Bruyette also expressed confidence in Trump, saying, "It feels like he hears us, that he is fighting for us" [2].
Morgan and Weld voters appear willing to bear economic costs to eliminate what they view as the Iranian nuclear threat [1, 2]. Interviews conducted in mid-May in Wiggins showed continued rural support for Trump’s Iran war despite the pain inflicted by rising fuel prices [1, 2].
The next key development to watch is the continued public response as gasoline prices remain elevated and the conflict in Iran evolves.
