Kathrine Frich
She used to stand behind the president.
Promising cheap fuel has long been a favourite trick for politicians running for office.
But when claims about economic relief collide with reality at the pump, voters notice. A recent pledge about energy prices has triggered a fierce backlash from critics.
Bold promises
President Donald Trump took to social media on Monday with a sweeping economic prediction. He told his followers that fuel costs would soon plunge to historic lows once a major international conflict comes to an end.
According to HuffPost, the president claimed that “oil prices will drop precipitously, like everything else is dropping (but more!), when we WIN the war with Iran.” He added that prices would hit “Three Dollars a gallon, but ultimately, below Two Dollars a gallon.”
Trump concluded by writing, “It will all happen quickly, and Iran will never have a Nuclear Weapon. MAGA.” But instead of reassuring voters, the post immediately drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum.
Fire from allies
Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was among the first to call out the president. The former staunch ally questioned how the nation could still be fighting a conflict that had already been declared over multiple times.
“Wait, I thought we won the war like 50 times already!!!” Greene wrote on X, as reported by HuffPost. She noted gas prices were at record highs for the holiday weekend, sarcastically adding, “It’s so much winning we can hardly take it.”
Representative Ted Lieu also took aim at the statement. The California Democrat reminded voters of previous declarations made by the White House regarding the Middle East.
“‘When we WIN’??? Didn’t Trump say Iran is a ‘failed nation’ and ‘dead’?” Lieu asked on social media, according to HuffPost. The lawmaker pressed further, asking why the war remains ongoing if the enemy was supposedly defeated.
Reality at pump
The criticism comes as drivers face record pain at the pump. Advocacy group Republicans Against Trump pointed out that Labor Day gas prices hit a record $4.14 a gallon, marking a steep jump of nearly a dollar from last year.
Industry experts also weighed in on the president’s post. Gregory Brew, an analyst with Eurasia Group, noted that the message unintentionally conceded several key facts about the economy and the war.
According to HuffPost, Brew summarized that Trump essentially admitted oil prices are high because of the conflict, fighting has not ended, and the United States has not yet won.
Sources: HuffPost, Truth Social, X
