US President Donald Trump's hair is blown by the wind as he boards Air Force One en route to Grand Island, Nebraska, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, October 5, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
President Donald Trump's critics sounded off on Monday after the president tried to shift blame for high gas prices onto a U.S. ally.
Trump has repeatedly tried to blame Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries for the surge in gas prices, especially diesel fuel. He attempted to cast blame on Ukraine again in a Truth Social post on Monday, suggesting that continued aggression between the two countries has done more to increase prices than Trump's disastrous war in Iran, which caused an economically damaging fight over the Strait of Hormuz.
"What's driving up Gasoline is no longer the Strait of Hormuz, because Record Numbers of Barrels are coming out now on an almost daily basis, but the word, 'Refineries,' where Russia's are being blown up by Ukraine, and where ours are being closed up, in Blue States, like California, by the Dumocrats (sic)," Trump posted.
The president's wild claim was posted at a time when the national average for a gallon of gas was $4.36 for regular and $6.23 for diesel.
Political analysts and observers reacted to Trump's post on social media.
"Here’s a thought. If it really is because of Ukraine’s response to the illegal Russian invasion, then why doesn’t Trump tell Putin to get back in his box and end the war? A war Trump said he would end on Day 1. Gas prices are all Trump’s fault, whichever way you look at it," Greg Bagwell, president of the U.K. Air & Space Power Association, posted on X.
"Trump admits he is causing the diesel shortage (and global food insecurity), as U.S. military is funding Ukraine, supplying it with weapons and Intel to target Russia," Christine Duhaime, a fomer anti-fraud officer, posted on X.
"When the President has to explain that it’s actually our proxy war in Eastern Europe, not our regime change war in the Middle East, that’s driving up the cost of living for hardworking Americans, it should be evident to everyone that our foreign policy does not serve the American people," Joe Kent, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, posted on X.