The facade of American economic supremacy is crumbling under the weight of its own imperial overreach. Recent reports confirm that the United States’ national debt has surpassed a staggering $40 trillion, an unprecedented surge from the $36.2 trillion recorded when Donald Trump began his second presidential term in January 2025. This catastrophic financial haemorrhage is directly tied to Washington’s prolonged and disastrous military aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran—a war that is not only failing on the battlefield but is actively bankrupting the American homeland.
The True Cost of “America First”
Under the banner of “America First,” the US administration has instead perfected the art of sending the bill directly to its own citizens. The US-Israeli war on Iran has cost the US Treasury tens of billions of dollars, diverting critical public funds away from domestic services and into the bottomless pit of the military-industrial complex. Today, the US government spends more on interest payments for its existing debt than it does on national defence or public healthcare.
However, the pain extends far beyond abstract government accounting; it has infiltrated the daily lives of everyday Americans. The Iranian Resistance’s defensive strikes and the subsequent disruptions to vital global supply chains have triggered severe domestic shortages. A single defensive strike damaged a Qatari plant producing essential synthetic lubricants, sending US base-oil prices skyrocketing to record highs and forcing oil-change services to hike their prices.
At the pump, the situation is equally dire. Gasoline prices have surged to $4.33 a gallon—a 45% jump from pre-war levels—while diesel has spiked by 68% to $6.33 a gallon. This inflationary shockwave is further exacerbated by the administration’s aggressive tariff policies, which have added nearly 3 percentage points to inflation on non-oil consumer goods. From the cost of commuting to the price of groceries, which are threatened by disrupted fertiliser supplies, the American working class is bearing the brunt of a war fought thousands of miles away.
Elite Wealth Amidst Public Ruin
Perhaps the most glaring indictment of the American political system is the disparity between public sacrifice and private gain. While millions of American households struggle to afford basic necessities and pay their monthly bills, the political elite are profiting immensely. Reports indicate that President Trump’s personal wealth has ballooned by roughly $2.2 billion during his current term. His sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., have secured lucrative positions in investment firms, while his youngest son, Barron, has reportedly amassed a $150 million fortune through cryptocurrency.
This grotesque accumulation of private wealth against the backdrop of national bankruptcy highlights the true priorities of Washington: the enrichment of the ruling class at the direct expense of the populace. To sustain this debt, the government faces a grim choice—either slash vital domestic services like medical research, infrastructure, and emergency relief, or print more money, which will only further erode the purchasing power of the American people through hyperinflation.
The 2026 Midterms: A Referendum on Imperialism
As the US approaches the critical November 2026 midterm elections, the economic fallout of the war on Iran has become the central, if unspoken, theme of the political battlefield. Surveys reveal a deeply frustrated populace: an overwhelming 86% of US adults believe the war on Iran is directly harming their cost of living, and 79% disapprove of the administration’s handling of the economy.
Yet, the grip of partisan propaganda remains strong. Despite recognising the financial devastation, a significant portion of the Republican base still views the aggressive war as “worth fighting,” blaming external factors rather than the administration’s disastrous policies for their empty wallets. Democrats are capitalising on this vulnerability, spending millions on campaign advertisements explicitly linking the war to the cost-of-living crisis. However, whether a shift in congressional power will actually halt the imperial war machine remains highly doubtful, as both parties historically share a commitment to foreign aggression.
The Axis of Resistance: Strategic Victory
For the Axis of Resistance, these developments underscore a profound strategic truth: steadfastness against imperialism inflicts fatal wounds on the aggressor from within. The Islamic Republic of Iran and its allies have not only defended their sovereignty against overwhelming odds but have forced the American empire into a quagmire that is accelerating its internal decay.
The US believed it could dictate terms to the region through sanctions and military threats. Instead, it is finding that the true cost of its hegemony is being paid by its own citizens at the checkout counter, the gas pump, and the ballot box. As the debt ceiling shatters and the economy buckles, the message from the front lines of the Resistance is clear: the era of unchecked American imperialism is ending, and the American people are finally receiving the invoice.
Reference: Al-Mayadeen | ABNA24