President Donald Trump's White House unveiled a new promotional gimmick this week: "Freedom Fuel," or a network of 25 gas stations offering what is being billed as cut-rate gasoline to deliver savings to American voters.
"FREEDOM FUEL HAS ARRIVED," said the White House official account on X. "The FIRST Freedom Fuel Network gas station has LANDED in Philadelphia, lowering the price at the pump to $3.47 for our 47th President. President Trump is leading the charge to lower gas prices this summer — putting more money in your pocket."
MAGA-supportive pundits instantly lauded the announcement, with far-right conspiracy theorist reporter Lara Logan posting, "Everyone is going to want this." But elsewhere, the idea was met with scorn, as people laughed at the idea of the Trump administration setting prices at a tiny handful of branded gas stations — and others pointed out that gas is only so expensive due to Trump's war against Iran.
"Arsonist puts out fire," wrote political commentator Travis Akers.
"Going through all that trouble and the best they can do is $3.47 per gallon?" wrote Open Measures senior researcher Jared Holt. "What a joke."
"The average price of gas when Biden left office was $3.12," wrote liberal journalist Aaron Rupar. "Trump wants to throw a parade for himself over one station where it's $3.47."
"You raise prices, then pretend when they go down you’re some savior," wrote former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). "Besides, all your supporters spent the last half year telling us presidents don’t control gas prices?"
"25 gas stations out of 120,000 in the US," wrote blogger Jim Stewartson. "This is Trump’s entire con in a nutshell: Try to fix a problem that isn’t a problem. Make it a problem. Deny you made it a problem. 'Fix' the problem with propaganda instead of a solution. Make the problem worse."
"So I this a state-owned gas station? A Trump-owned gas station? Or does this all belong to one of his rich donors?" wrote the LDS Democrats account. "There is a racket in here somewhere."
