‘The new toilet paper’: Panic ensues as shortage of essential product appears imminent

Panic spread Saturday as reports suggest that the “next supply-chain headache” could reach the United States soon – one sparked by President Donald Trump’s war against Iran that may risk causing widespread shortages of a critical product used regularly by most Americans.

That product is motor oil, an essential lubricating fluid required to keep anything with an engine – namely vehicles – functioning properly, and outlets such as Yahoo Autos, Axios and others have reported this week on how the U.S. war against Iran may soon bring a shortage of the critical product to U.S. shores.

“Lubricating fluids are the new toilet paper,” warned Timothy Dooner, a radio host and podcaster, writing in a social media post on X Saturday in response to the latest report about a potential motor oil shortage, referencing the widespread toilet paper shortages seen at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dooner was responding to a report of an alleged internal memo from the autoparts seller AutoZone. Reported on by the automotive news outlet Carscoops, the alleged memo warns of an impending shortage of lubricating fluids. While its authenticity has not been verified, its contents are consistent with what experts have increasingly warned about.

“Actual shortages are starting to appear,” warned Amanda Hay, the global lead for the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association, speaking with Axios in its report Friday.

Other outlets, such as The Drive, reported this week on an alleged internal bulletin distributed to “Toyota service departments with instructions on rationing motor oil stocks due to an impending shortage.”

Responding to the potential of an impending motor oil shortage, the progressive political news outlet The Intellectualist laid the blame squarely on Trump.

“Trump’s policies are responsible for shortages and economic despair,” reads a statement from the outlet written on X to its nearly 300,000 followers.

And journalist and author Mike Freeman, whose experience includes writing for USA TODAY and CBS Sports, expressed his own concern over the potential shortage with two words: “oh boy.”