Trump's strikes on Iran could cost the American economy up to $210B, report says

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Wednesday 04 March 2026 05:36 EST


The U.S. war with Iran could cost the American economy as much as $210 billion, according to fiscal analyst Kent Smetters, director of the widely used Penn Wharton Budget Model. The ongoing conflict is already driving disruption to trade, global energy markets, and gasoline prices, though it is difficult to precisely estimate how much the war will impact the economy, Smetters told Fortune.

His predictions currently estimate a $115 billion economic loss, though that figure could range between $50 billion and the upward bound of $210 billion depending on the nature and duration of the conflict.

“One problem I have with cost of war calculations is that they really do ignore the counterfactual,” he told the outlet. “If Iran really did get a nuclear weapon, then we might have spent a lot more on military and even repair of cities later on.”

The president has already acknowledged the economic threat of the war, offering government-backed insurance and potential naval escorts to energy tankers moving through key chokepoints in the Gulf region.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-war-iran-economic-impact-b2931403.html

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Link to Fortune Magazine REPORT - Trump’s strikes on Iran could cost American economy as much as $210 billion, top budget expert says

[Hugin]

1. Right now I'm thinking $210 billion is minimum...

So, over $210 billion… and counting.

[Bayard]

12. Military contractors are doing happy dances

[Ferrets are Cool]

28. 220b wont even begin to fund this fiasco.

[Whip-poor-will]

2. Sure

From the school that "educated " our current president about tariffs ...with a grain of salt

$210 billion so what it's the starting line to follow with"we didn't see that coming "

[SergeStorms]

3. Relax......

The U.S. has plenty of money! Trump's tariffs have filled our coffers. And all that tariff money came from other countries.

That's what orange jebus still thinks, anyway.

[travelingthrulife]

4. It will be far, far more than that.

[peppertree]

5. Every GOPee billionaire, congresscritter, and official should have their accounts impounded to pay for this

Starting with the Trump crime family's.

(of course, that will never happen - but, I mean, in an ideal world)

[SpankMe]

6. It's time for a war tax

Every time a POTUS directs military action without congressional approval, every American gets a bill to pay for it. That should bring some of this to an end.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Or like 1918 WWI - "Liberty Bonds" (for war)

[RANDYWILDMAN]

8. What about the 110B he gave the board of peace ?

[Attilatheblond]

19. Oh that money? Check his pockets

[bmichaelh]

9. Unfortunately

Unfortunately, there will be some who will still vote for the "Trump" endorsed candidates.

4 years should have been enough information, this guy is unqualified for any kind of job with any kind of responsibility.

[Midnight Writer]

10. There goes that big, beautiful tariff money.

[delisen]

11. I figured a dying Trump would try to take us with him ala Jim Jones

but it seems he has bigger plans and wants to set the world on fire.

I note he said Starmer is no Winston Churchill, so that signals Trump is now seeing himself as playing the FDR, Stalin, or Hitler role in a World War III sequel to World War II

He has abondoned the quest for the Nobel Peace Prize and is seeking the Oscar.

[orangecrush]

20. THIS

[Bayard]

13. Putting on my tinfoil hat (as if I removed it)

If he keeps stirring the pot all over the world its only a matter of time before another able country decides to strike the U.S. That would really give him a reason to halt elections.

[Attilatheblond]

21. Couldn't get internet this morning. Mild panic that Iran had thrown the cyber switch

Knew Petty Kash fired the FBI unit that specialized in keeping cyber security tabs of what Iran was doing. Fully expect some day that Iran will teach Trump Regime a lesson in warfare in THIS era instead of 1812.

Gotta tell ya all, I was a bit afraid of what was going on in the world for an hour as I jumped thur internet provider hoops & waited for local internet to come back up.

[artemisia1]

14. I believe that anything under $2 trillion, is a likely understatement when all is said and done. /nt

[niyad]

17. Yes

[purr-rat beauty]

15. No money for the poor...

....we need it all for senseless war

[niyad]

16. That is just for the first week, I am assuming? First four days?

[wnylib]

18. I do not want to hear

one more GD, effin' word from the right about effin' deficits!!!

[PatrickforB]

22. You know what is sad about this article? Not that it isn't true, but that the only thing these people seem to

understand is ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES.

What about the little girls killed by that bomb and Fox News and the rest of the right-wing propaganda apparatus braying out the lie that it was a misfire of an Iranian missile. Were they there? Did they actually see whose missile it was? Because I'll tell you that if I was the parent of that little girl whose severed arm was found in the wreckage, I wouldn't give a rat's ass about the US losing $billions.

And the other issue is the Trump 'administration' telling our troops they are fighting in the name of Jesus to precipitate the Armageddon. What the blue fuck?????????????????? As if God needs any help from us doing anything.

Why in the hell aren't we talking about that? Because if these so-called Christians feel like bombing children and killing women and children is something somehow good because they are doing it in the name of Christ, that is an abomination.

[Ol Janx Spirit]

23. Break out the magic Sharpie! We will be making money off of this war in no time!

[twodogsbarking]

24. Shouldn't we call it the "attack on Iran" rather than "war with Iran"?

Is Nutandyahoo in the Trumpstein files?

[Gore1FL]

25. "Up to" lol nt

[mdbl]

26. Take it from Trump's fortune of ill-gotten gains.

[unblock]

27. Ah yes. "They really do ignore the counterfactual (that was was conveniently invented)

All billionaires would be better off if they gave me a billion each because if they didn't, well, they'd lose than a billion each, see.

So really I'm saving them money. Thank me very much.

[slightlv]

29. trump can't spend America into bankruptcy fast enough... nt

[dalton99a]

30. Kick

[AllyCat]

31. So much for tariff, DOGE, and "Trump health accounts"

Payments. Not that I ever believed any of that was coming.

I’d rather have all the people back that he has killed.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

32. Send the bill to the billionaires.

They have all our money.