Spiking Pump Prices Dent Trump’s Willingness to Extend War (1)

President Donald Trump’s efforts to stabilize prices at the pump underscore the unique role oil and gasoline play in the economy — and American voters’ perceptions of it.

Trump’s war with Iran has fueled one of the biggest spikes in gasoline prices in recent decades, lifting pump prices to the highest levels he’s seen as president. The surge threatens to ripple through the economy, from factories and farms all the way to the ballot box.

The president seemed to try to appease markets Monday by signaling a quick end to what he called the “excursion” in Iran, a distinct ...