Story perspectives

Trump Fundraises on Iran Conflict Amid Rising Oil Prices

3/13/2026

Center

Trump Fundraises Amid Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump is leveraging the Iran war to fundraise, portraying Democrats as weak on national security.
Fundraising emails began after military strikes on Iran, framing the conflict as necessary and beneficial.
The Trump administration faces scrutiny over university research funding, with concerns about delayed grants and legal challenges.
Oil prices surge due to the conflict as Trump presents the higher prices as advantageous ahead of the midterm elections.

Left

Warren Investigates Trump Fund

After the 2024 election, four companies contributed $63 million to a fund for U.S. President Donald Trump's presidential library amid defamation lawsuits.
Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) are investigating the fund’s dissolution and the money’s whereabouts.
Lawmakers push for funding caps on presidential libraries, citing ethics concerns tied to Donald Trump and a $400 million Boeing 747 gift from Qatar.

History

Historical Context

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated after President Trump's 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which had aimed to limit Iran's nuclear program. By 2019, military strikes heightened political maneuvering, with oil prices rising by 20%. This strategy echoes past tactics, notably post-9/11, raising ethical concerns about campaign financing amid ongoing investigations into Trump's presidential library contributions.

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Trump Fundraises Amid Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump is leveraging the Iran war to fundraise, portraying Democrats as weak on national security.
Fundraising emails began after military strikes on Iran, framing the conflict as necessary and beneficial.
The Trump administration faces scrutiny over university research funding, with concerns about delayed grants and legal challenges.
Oil prices surge due to the conflict as Trump presents the higher prices as advantageous ahead of the midterm elections.

1 / 3