Trump Disputes Gas Price Fact-Check Claims

President Trump Shifts Narrative on Gas Prices After Iowa Fact-Check

President Donald Trump has altered his claims about gas prices following a public correction during his recent Iowa appearance, insisting that farmers confirmed his statements about sub-$2 fuel when evidence suggests otherwise.

During Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, Trump claimed that two Iowa farmers had verified his assertion about low gas prices. “I was in Iowa, and they had $1.85, because I had it at $1.99 a gallon,” Trump said. “And I was corrected by two farmers that said, ‘I just bought my gasoline for $1.85.'”

This narrative contradicts reporting from CNN, which covered the Iowa event. According to the network, when Trump boasted about Iowa gas prices being $1.95 or $1.85, someone in the crowd shouted a correction: “No, $2.63!” CNN noted that the gas station just outside the venue in Clive, a Des Moines suburb, was selling gas for $2.69 per gallon on the day of Trump’s visit.

Current data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) shows Iowa’s average gas price at $2.50 per gallon as of Thursday. The discrepancy between Trump’s claims and market reality is significant, with GasBuddy reporting to CNN that only four stations in the entire state were selling gas for less than $2 per gallon when the president visited.

Despite these facts, Trump has continued to promote a narrative of widespread sub-$2 gas prices. “Gas is less than $2 in many areas, $2.30 a gallon, average,” he told his Cabinet. The actual nationwide average stands at $2.87 per gallon according to AAA data, with Oklahoma having the lowest state average at $2.40.

The president’s claims extend beyond current prices to historical comparisons. During the same Cabinet meeting, Trump suggested that gas prices were much higher during former President Biden’s administration. “Gasoline has plunged to, uh,” Trump began before changing direction. “Think it’s over $4 a gallon, depending on where you are. In California, it’s $7 to $8 a gallon.”

This characterization significantly overstates previous gas prices. California, while having the nation’s highest average price at $4.27 per gallon, has never reached the $7-$8 range Trump described. The state’s current average is actually down from $4.45 a year ago, according to AAA data. California’s prices exceed the second-highest state, Hawaii, by 16 cents per gallon.

The president’s statements during the Cabinet meeting received no pushback from those present, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright. When Trump claimed unprecedented oil and gas production and asked Wright, “is that a correct segment?”, the Energy Secretary simply responded, “That is correct, all-time records.”

The focus on gas prices reflects their political significance as a pocketbook issue that affects virtually all Americans. Fuel costs remain a key economic indicator that voters often associate directly with presidential performance, making them a frequent talking point in political discourse.

Trump’s shifting narrative on gas prices comes at a time when energy costs remain a concern for many Americans dealing with broader inflation issues. While gas prices have declined from previous peaks, they remain a significant expense for households and businesses across the country, particularly in states like California where prices substantially exceed the national average.