Political commentator Bill O'Reilly has a blunt message for President Donald Trump: fix the Iran situation, or watch your political influence evaporate. In a recent interview, O'Reilly warned that the prolonged conflict and rising prices are not just hurting Trump's approval ratings, but also weakening the power of his endorsements as the November elections approach.

O'Reilly Says Iran Is Hurting Trump

Speaking with NewsNation's Chris Cuomo after Trump-backed Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) won Florida's Republican gubernatorial nomination, O'Reilly suggested that the president's support no longer carries the same weight it once did. The AP confirmed on Wednesday that Donalds will face Democrat David Jolly in November.

"I don't know if that means anything now, because Donald Trump has got to solve the Iran thing," O'Reilly said. "That is really hurting him. Because then the prices follow that. They're haunting him. So I don't know if the endorsement –– it's not going to hurt you if you're a Republican. No, but it doesn't have the cachet that it did."

O'Reilly, who previously said Trump was "almost trapped" by the Iran conflict, predicted Donalds would defeat Jolly in November, though "it'll be close."

Polling Shows Support For Trump Sliding

The numbers back up O'Reilly's concerns. An AP-NORC poll found that about two-thirds of Americans said the war was not worth fighting, while just 28% approved of Trump's handling of it. Republican approval fell to 61% from 71% in June, marking a sharp decline in support.

A newer Reuters/Ipsos survey put Trump's overall approval at 33%, the lowest of his presidency. Eighty percent said U.S. involvement in Iran would continue for an extended period, while only one in five said the war had been worthwhile.

O'Reilly said the conflict now sits at the center of Trump's legacy. "All I know is that this is tied into President Trump's legacy now," he said. "So he's got to come out as the winner in Iran somehow."

Higher Gas Prices Add Political Pressure

The economic fallout adds to the pressure. U.S. gasoline averaged $4.10 a gallon Thursday, up from about $3.13 a year earlier. The administration moved to end summer-blend gasoline requirements early to increase supply and ease pump prices.

Trump has faced mounting pressure as gasoline stayed above $4, while continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz threatens further price increases. With the war dragging on and prices staying high, the political stakes are only getting higher for the president.