All posts tagged "gas prices"

'Newsflash— it's not working': MS NOW dumps more bad news in Trump's lap

Trump sees his slate of D.C. vanity projects a "welcome distraction" from an ongoing affordability crisis, but MS NOW slammed the idea.

"Newsflash, it's not working," MS NOW reporter Jake Traylor said.

Traylor quoted a former White House official who said that Trump saw his reflecting pool, various fountains, and other projects as "a welcome distraction" from the ongoing war in Iran and an affordability crisis in the United States.

However, Traylor pointed to new polling that shows a meager 28 percent approval rating for the White House ballroom, a 21 percent approval rating for the triumphal arch, and 12 percent approval for putting his name on a $250 bill.

"Americans are not getting on board with this distraction," Traylor said. "Even if it is something that's working in the president's mind right now."

Ex-Trump official derides president's pet project on CNN: 'Couldn't be more tone deaf'

One of the pet projects that President Donald Trump likes to tout the most was mocked as 'tone deaf' on CNN.

GOP analyst Sarah Matthews, a former Trump White House deputy press secretary, spoke about the president's obsession with the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after a montage of him calling the landmark "a swimming pool on steroids" and saying about its controversial renovation, "nobody's ever seen anything like it."

Matthews explained, "he's a real estate guy. He loves to build," and "he's looking at these little pet projects, and this is what excites him."

However, even though Trump "probably is bored of talking about Iran. He doesn't want to talk about inflation," Matthews maintained, his comments "couldn't be more tone deaf."

As much as his renovations of the Reflecting Pool get him "jazzed up," Matthews explained that it's the issues that bore him that matter to everyone else.

"What the American people are actually focused on is the affordability crisis that he has only exacerbated with his choice to launch this attack on Iran and raise gas prices," Matthews said.

'Unconscionable': Fed-up lawmaker blasts Mike Johnson for yanking vote to rein in Trump

WASHINGTON — Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) told reporters on Thursday that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) pulled a scheduled war powers resolution vote, saying that it was clear that Democrats had enough votes to compel President Donald Trump to withdraw from the Iran war.

"They just pulled it, unconscionably. It is beyond time that we address this issue," Scholten said. "Gas prices are $5. I'm getting $5 a gallon in Michigan. People on the West Coast are hearing that and they're planning a road trip to Michigan to put it in Tupperware and take it back home with them. I'm getting calls in my office about people cancelling their Memorial Day plans because they literally cannot afford to drive to their cottages in Michigan and celebrate this weekend how they normally would."

She described how the economy and skyrocketing gas prices has caused frustration among Americans.

"It's obviously about a failed plan, not the whims of a president who decides he's bored one day and wants to continue this war," Scholten said. "The power and the decision, whether we go forward with this, belongs in the hands of the people and that's why Congress needs the power to decide."

Scholten said that she has questions about what's happening among leadership behind-the-scenes.

"We do hope that Mike Johnson will answer it and not deflect as he often does, saying 'I don't know anything about that.' It's his decision. We had the votes for it today and I'm not one to speculate, but I do believe that's why he probably pulled it because I think we could have got it done today. And that's unfortunate. It's a disservice to the American people."

Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) tells reporters Thursday that House Speaker Mike Johnson pulled a scheduled War Powers resolution vote.

“They just pulled it, unconscionably. It is beyond time that we address this issue.”

🎥 @MattLaslo pic.twitter.com/uTWTV9Vzdv
— Nicole Charky-Chami (@NicoleCharky) May 22, 2026

'That dog ain't gonna hunt': GOP strategist warns Jim Jordan's spin won't fly with voters

A Republican strategist doubted that Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) would be able to settle down voters upset with high gas prices with the latest GOP talking point.

After Jordan told CNN on Thursday night that gas prices don't matter as much as Iran's nuclear capabilities, Republican strategist Melik Abdul reacted to the clip by saying "that dog ain't gonna hunt."

Republicans "can continue to say that over and over again." Abdul warned that "how people feel is how they vote," and voters are more worried about the price at the gas pump.

"They're going to go to the polls, not on Iran. They're going to go to the polls on gas prices, food prices, and all of these other things," Abdul explained. "Republicans have to understand it doesn't matter what's happening in Iran. It doesn't matter what you're doing with DEI and suing all of these schools. People care about their pocketbooks."

The exchange comes amid mounting Republican anxiety over the political fallout from the Iran war, which has pushed average U.S. gas prices above $4.50 per gallon, up from under $3 before the conflict began in February. Trump campaigned in 2024 on bringing gas prices below $2 a gallon.

During that same interview, CNN's Kaitlan Collins reminded Jordan he had been "critical when gas was $3.07, when President Biden was in office" and asked, "If you thought that was bad, what is $4.53?"

Jordan replied that "gas prices were coming down until we had to deal with this situation" in Iran, before adding, "But you know, that's life, that's dealing with the world and the world we live in."

When Collins pressed him on Trump's 2024 campaign promise to bring gas prices under $2 a gallon, Jordan said, "Hopefully, we'll get there soon. I want — I want gas prices low, too. I mean, we all want gas prices low. Who doesn't, for goodness sake?"

Moments later, when Collins repeated his "that's life" line back to him, Jordan tried to walk it back, telling her, "Those are your words, not mine" — even though he had said exactly that less than a minute earlier.

White House in a panic that gas is about to pass $5: report

Trump administration officials once called high gas prices the Biden administration's "Achilles' heel" — but now it appears that could have come back to haunt them, according to a new Reuters report on Thursday.

The political and economic backlash over the Iran war has left the White House struggling to address the skyrocketing price of oil as the prospect of a quick end to the military operation looks increasingly unlikely, three Trump administration insiders familiar with the conversations told Reuters.

"U.S. President Donald Trump this week backed suspending the federal gas tax, a step that would knock 18 cents a gallon off motor fuel prices currently averaging more than $4.50 a gallon nationwide," Reuters reported. "Once viewed by some White House aides as unnecessary, the idea is gaining urgency as officials run low on options to show they are tackling rising costs, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal deliberations."

As prices have climbed, the president needs "a visible consumer relief move now," one of the White House insiders said.

"Historically, $4-per-gallon gasoline has been a level that triggers public backlash and economic anxiety," Reuters reported.

AAA data has revealed that seven states have already passed the $5 a gallon mark.

And as consumer sentiment drops to a record low and consumer inflation hit 3.8 percent this April — the highest it has been in nearly three years — more Americans are experiencing economic strain as gas prices climb and U.S. households are already paying the price.

With midterm elections in November, Republicans have started pressuring Trump and his administration as they worry that affordability concerns among voters could ultimately push Republicans out of majority in the House of Representatives — and potentially the Senate.

"They feel like that’s their largest vulnerability right now: that specific cost, gas, not overall economic conditions," an unnamed White House political adviser told Reuters.

"The toughest thing, too, is that we made gas prices the Achilles' heel for (former President Joe) Biden and now it's our own."

Taylor Rogers, White House spokesperson, said that the president and his energy team had expected the Iran war would create repercussions for global energy markets and had anticipated they needed a plan to address it.

"The ability to supply both the United States and our allies with reliable, affordable, and secure energy has long been a key strategic objective of President Trump, and his successful efforts to unleash American oil and gas has achieved this objective," Rogers told Reuters.

Congressman laughs in Trump official's face over claim high gas prices are 'exciting'

A Democratic lawmaker laughed at a Trump administration official during a congressional hearing on Wednesday after the cabinet member made a peculiar claim that soaring gas prices were "exciting."

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) pressed Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to answer questions about the rising costs at the pump for Americans as Burgum testified about President Donald Trump's 2027 budget request before the House Natural Resources Committee in Washington, D.C.

"Mr. Secretary, while you're funneling billions into these vanity projects, gas is up by an average of $1.40 a gallon from last year," Huffman said.

"In March, President Donald Trump posted this message. He said, 'the United States is the largest oil producer in the world by far, so when oil prices go up we make a lot of money," Huffman said, making air quotes with his hand while saying "we," and asking, "Who's the we?"

Burgum responded to Huffman's question.

"It could be states, the federal government, the American people, when we collect royalty rates on oil production on federal lands and so prices are higher than there's more revenue coming into the system," Burgum said.

But Huffman wasn't satisfied with that response.

"So this is good for American families that they're paying $1.40 more for gas?" Huffman asked.

"I'm not saying that, but I'm thrilled that they're paying about a buck less than they were during the Biden administration. I mean, that's exciting," Burgum said. "And these prices are going to drop quickly again because now we actually have supply, you know prices are based on supply."

Huffman interjected and called out Burgum's claims.

"There's a real disconnect here," Huffman said. "Americans are not celebrating this spike in gas prices, that you seem to think is just great. And your only answer is to harken back to the depths of the pandemic."

Burgum tried to argue again, and Huffman chuckled at his remarks.

"Americans are paying $1.40 more a gallon and there's no end in sight to this energy crisis created by the war in Iran," Huffman added. "They're the ones who can't afford to keep the lights on and keep food on the table, but the 'we' that's making a lot more money — let's be honest about it — are the big oil billionaires."

BURGUM: I'm thrilled Americans are paying about a buck less for gas than they did during the Biden administration. That's exciting

HUFFMAN: There's a real disconnect here. Americans are not celebrating this spike in gas prices, and your only answer is to harken back to the… pic.twitter.com/F1JbYUwz8x
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 13, 2026

Trump's allies admit they're resorting to desperate 'gimmicks' to keep gas down: report

The Trump administration was reportedly looking for ways to drop gas prices at the pump, according to a Bloomberg report on Monday.

President Donald Trump has touted lowering oil prices throughout his campaign and first year of his second term, but as the Iran war hits its fourth week and oil prices skyrocket, his allies are aiming to make new moves ahead of the midterms this fall, Bloomberg's Nancy Cook reported.

"I’m told Cabinet members like Energy Secretary Christopher Wright, staff at the National Economic Council and the National Energy Dominance Council as well as other White House aides are soliciting ideas from policy experts, donors and energy executives as they struggle to limit the economic damage inflicted by the war," Cook wrote.

"Today, Trump himself backed down from threats he made over the weekend to begin hitting Iran’s energy infrastructure in 48 hours after allies and Gulf countries warned the president about the consequences and oil prices spiked," Cook explained.

Trump allies were apparently tasked with sharing potential remedies.

"Among the myriad ideas floated to the administration for consideration are asking Congress to suspend the federal gas tax; releasing more oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve once the current release is finished and fast-tracking drilling permits, according to people familiar with the internal discussions," Cook reported. "A White House official said while there are many options on the table, the administration at this time isn’t pursuing a gas tax holiday or an additional SPR release."

"One Trump ally acknowledged a lot of this was 'gimmicky' but said the White House has to show it’s taking action before the midterms, which inevitably will turn on the economy," Cook added. "With Republican control of Congress at risk, Trump has put his political team in a bit of a quagmire with ostensibly no clear strategy or timeline for ending the war."

‘I don’t want to go to prison’: JD Vance ducks tough Iran question

Vice President JD Vance tried to evade a question about his real thoughts on the war in Iran on Friday.

Vance was taking questions from reporters following his speech in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, where he campaigned for GOP candidates in a district Republicans were hoping to flip. Associated Press reporter Bill Barrow asked the vice president what advice he gave the president regarding military strikes and the economic fallout, including surging gas prices.

"Did you express any concerns like those you've expressed in the past on the possibility of those extended wars?" Barrow asked.

Vance refused to directly say whether he supports the joint U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

"We're in the Situation Room, where you can't even take your iPod in there, or your AirPods, I guess what they're called, you can't take your iPhone in there, you can't take anything in there — because it is the most classified space anywhere in the world," Vance said.

"And I sit there with Pete Hegseth, and Gen. Caine, and Marco Rubio, and the entire White House team, and the president and I, and the entire senior team are talking about the options and about what we need to do and how we must best protect the American people," Vance added. "I hate to disappoint you, but I'm not going to show up here in front of God and everybody else and tell you exactly what I said in that classified room partially because I don't wanna go to prison and partially because I think it's important for the President of the United States to talk to his advisors without those advisors running their mouth to the American media."

Insiders have reported that Vance, who was a public affairs officer during the Iraq war and served from 2003 to 2007, has remained skeptical about the military operation. He has previously criticized wars in the Middle East.

Q: “What did you advise the president initially as he considered his actions in Iran?”

Vance: “I’m not gonna show up here and in front of God, and everybody else tell you exactly what I said in that classified room, partially because I don't wanna go to prison.” pic.twitter.com/wqcuc5hJO2
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) March 13, 2026

Trump official's new 'very telling' admission 'would be significantly catastrophic': CNN

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on Thursday didn't confirm or deny whether oil would hit $200 a barrel as gas prices continue to surge and the conflict in Iran has escalated to a global economic crisis.

CNN International host Becky Anderson spoke with anchor and correspondent Eleni Giokos about how the U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran have prompted Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz and strike back at the international oil market. Iran has signaled that it aims to spike oil prices to $200 a barrel.

"I think it basically contradicts a lot of what we heard from the Energy Secretary, and we know he was asked about whether oil is going to hit $200 a barrel," Giokos said. "He couldn't definitively say no and I think that's very telling about where we are and also, quite interestingly, when he was asked about naval escorts, he says we were not ready for that yet, it will happen at the end of the month, but hang on, we thought this was hopefully going to end by the end of the month, which obviously isn't the timeline that's realistic."

The International Energy Agency's 32 member countries agreed on Wednesday to release 400 million barrels of oil to help lower energy prices amid the Iran war oil supply disruption.

"The IEA says this is the largest disruption of supply — ever — in the oil markets, and I think we really need to take that seriously," Giokos said. "We're talking about 8 million barrel deficit, despite the fact that they've released a record number of oil from emergency reserves-400 million barrels. But again, that was supposed to just sort of inject a little bit of confidence in the market. It's not doing that. Oil prices right now are high and you've got the futures in the US also under pressure. It's really indicative of the seriousness of this energy shock that is heading home."

President Donald Trump and his administration's changing rhetoric around oil prices also hasn't stopped prices from climbing, Giokos explained.

"Six tankers and cargo ships over the last few days have been hit by Iran, and that's really indicative of the seriousness of Iran's threats," Giokos added. "They also said that they warned the world, they promised they're going to keep on choking the Strait of Hormuz, but they also warned that oil prices are going to hit $200 a barrel, and that is what leverage they have. They have leveraged to inflict pain on infrastructure here, which they are doing. Oman and Bahrain depots are on fire. We've seen those images today and they're disrupting trade as well."

The disruption has appeared to have left consequences for the global market.

"We're looking at some of those images as we face at present, and so when Chris Wright was asked by our colleague Kate, you know whether you can see prices going to 200 bucks on the barrel, and he couldn't answer that, he was right not to answer it," Anderson said. "I mean he doesn't like the idea. You can't answer that question because nobody can at this point. 200 bucks on the barrel would be significantly catastrophic for these markets around the world."

'GOP mutiny' reported as rising gas prices send Republicans into midterm panic

Surging gas prices amid the war in Iran have sent Republicans in a tailspin.

With midterms approaching, GOP lawmakers have growing concerns over how voters will respond at the polls, according to The Swamp, The Daily Beast's Substack.

"GOP mutiny over rising gas prices," The Swamp reported. "Republicans are panicking over prices at the pumps hurting their midterm prospects, with Rick Scott saying he doesn’t buy the administration’s claim that it’s a temporary spike."

The MAGA senator said Wednesday that it will take the United States time to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz, where attacks have escalated in the channel and created an oil chokepoint for global trade.

"We want prices to come down. I think unfortunately, prices are going to be up for a while until this ends," Scott told CNN.

He argued that prices could come down, despite growing concerns over affordability.

"The most important thing we can do right now, and our job right now, is we’d love to get gas prices back down but the most important thing is to destroy Iran’s ability to produce a nuclear weapon, destroy their military, their ballistic missile capability and hopefully we end up with a country that wants to work with the world community," Scott said.

"We all want gas prices to come down," he added. "Nobody wants gas prices higher. This president doesn’t want gas prices higher."

Scott claimed that the U.S. had “no choice” but to enter the conflict and rising gas prices were now short-term problems.

The timing has been troubling for Republicans, who have admitted that increasing energy prices have created political anxiety with elections just months away, according to Politico.

Gas prices rose nearly 9 percent in the week after the bombing campaign began, with the national average for a gallon of regular gas hitting $3.25, according to AAA.

Sen. Rick Scott: "Unfortunately, prices are gonna be up for a while" pic.twitter.com/ZcwbTSzImQ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 11, 2026