President Donald Trump on June 10 said he meant he was glad inflation isn't higher when he said, "I love the inflation."Trump was answering a reporter's question about the May Consumer Price Index report when he said, "the numbers were great," and "I love the inflation." The CPI report found prices were up over 4% annually for the first time since 2023.Shortly after his remarks in the Oval Office, he clarified the comment to the New York Post in a phone call, calling Democratic criticism about the comment "out of context.""I love the inflation numbers because of what I’m talking about,” Trump told The Post. “The numbers are going to be phenomenal because what’s showing is that despite the fact that we’re in a war, the numbers are much lower than anticipated, and when we’re out of that war, the numbers will be at lower numbers than they were even before it started.”Speaker of the House Mike Johnson also said, per NBC News, that the comment had been taken "totally out of context."Did Trump say, 'I love inflation'? Watch.President Donald Trump tells reporters he loves the inflationWhen asked if he's concerned about the latest inflation numbers, President Donald Trump told reporters that he loves the inflation.Trump was speaking at a bill signing in the Oval Office on June 10 when he made the comment, now widely shared by Democrats hoping to make high prices a focal point in the midterm elections. Trump was asked whether he was worried about the Labor Department's latest CPI, which came out earlier that day."No, I love it. The numbers were great. You know what I really love? I love the inflation. You know why?" Trump responded. "Because as soon as this war is over ‒ you know, I can say it now, something you didn't know."Trump then said he had been taking millions of barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz without Iran knowing. He later explained on Truth Social he had conducted a "secret mission" to move more than 100 million barrels of oil through the Strait.May report showed inflation at highest since 2023Disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as a chokepoint for about a fifth of the world's oil, have sent oil and gas prices soaring since the war in Iran started.The Labor Department's CPI report for May, released June 10, showed prices rose 0.5% from April to May and 4.2% year over year. It's the steepest increase in three years.Trump has repeatedly said the increase in prices will be worth the effort to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. He has also said the war is nearing an end, though peace talks have stalled and Trump said he would return to attacks as Iran is taking "too long" to agree to a deal."When the war's over, it's coming down," Trump said of inflation. "It's going to come down like a rock."Trump's approval rating is at 35%, according to a June 8 Reuters/Ipsos poll, with most voters citing the rising food and gas prices as reasons for their disapproval.Contributing: Joey Garrison, Rachel Barber, Terry Collins, USA TODAYKinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X (Twitter), Threads, Bluesky and TikTok.