US Gas Prices Back Up to $4 a Gallon
Is this a Republican political disaster or the unavoidable result of Iranian aggression?
Above: A driver refuels a vehicle in Florida, U.S., June 22. Image credit: Zak Bennett/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
Gas hitting $4 a gallon is a direct consequence of U.S. mismanagement, and everyday Americans are paying the price at the pump. Prices jumped from $2.98 before the conflict, and with peak driving season in full swing, relief is months away. This is a political disaster for Republicans heading into the November midterms.
Pro-Trump narrative
Gas prices topping $4 a gallon trace back to Iran's repeated attacks on Strait of Hormuz shipping and a collapsed ceasefire deal — not any single policy failure. The Biden administration left the Strategic Petroleum Reserve drained and partially inoperable, tying Trump's hands on relief options. Diplomacy is still active through mediators, and markets are already pulling back from the $91-a-barrel peak.
