Investor Gerber Criticizes Trump's Iran Policy: Oil Prices Surge, Iran Knows It Lacks "Public Support"

Investor Ross Gerber criticized President Donald Trump over Iran on Tuesday, arguing that rising oil prices and borrowing costs could intensify political pressure on the administration as the conflict drags on.

Trump Lacks "Public Support," Says Gerber

Gerber posted on X criticizing Trump, saying a "guy with bone spurs" has no right to "start a war," referencing Trump's medical exemption from the Vietnam War draft due to a bone spur diagnosis.

"Oil prices and interest rates keep rising, and Iran knows Trump has no public support for a war before the election," Gerber said. He added that the stock market doesn't "want to participate in Trump's war" and predicted the administration would fail to reach a "deal" to "win" the war during its term.

Say it again: a guy with bone spurs has no right to start a war. Oil prices and interest rates keep rising, and Iran knows Trump has no public support for a war before the election. The stock market doesn't want to participate in Trump's war. He won't reach a "deal" to "win" the war during his term...

— Ross Gerber, August 18, 2026

Oil and Gas Prices Surge

Oil prices have been volatile over the past few weeks. As of this writing, West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.85% to $85.66 per barrel, while Brent crude gained 0.83% to $91.71 per barrel. The United States Oil Fund ETF rose 1.11% to $132.13 in pre-market trading on Wednesday.

Gasoline prices remain above $4 per gallon, with the national average surging to $4.0860 per gallon on Wednesday, according to AAA data. Average prices in states like California, Washington, and Hawaii remain above $5 per gallon.

Iran Rebuts Trump's Claims on the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaee mocked Trump's claims about the Strait of Hormuz, pointing out that the waterway—which carries one-fifth of the world's oil supply—is thousands of miles away from Washington, D.C.

On the other hand, Trump's Energy Secretary Chris Wright reiterated that oil tankers are being escorted by the U.S. military through the waterway, saying the effort has already helped 30 vessels transit safely.