Vice President Vance Downplays Rising Gas Prices During Michigan Visit, Touts Administration’s Economic Agenda

Gas prices may remain elevated in the coming weeks due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Vice President JD Vance told a Michigan audience Wednesday, characterizing the spike as a temporary “blip” that the Trump administration is working to address.

“We’ve got a rough road ahead of us for the next few weeks, but it’s temporary,” Vance said during a speech at the EDSI manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, where he highlighted the administration’s tax cuts and economic initiatives.

Fuel costs have surged nationwide following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which prompted Iranian officials to restrict access to a strategic strait through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s crude oil travels. In Michigan, AAA reported Wednesday that gasoline averaged $3.87 per gallon—nearly a dollar higher than last month’s $2.92 average and significantly above the $3.02 recorded during the same period last year.

During the roughly hour-long event, which included a press question session, Vance acknowledged consumer pain from higher fuel prices but predicted a swift resolution. “It’s not going to last forever,” he assured attendees. “We’re going to take care of business. We’re going to come back home, and when that happens, you’re going to see energy prices come back down to reality.”

The Vice President noted that gas prices had reached even higher levels during the Biden administration, peaking at $5.22 per gallon in Michigan in June 2022 amid post-pandemic demand surges and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, prices had already declined significantly before Trump’s return to the White House, with Michigan averages at $3.14 the day before his inauguration.

Regarding the Iran conflict, which has led to retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases in the region, Vance emphasized that President Trump “is not interested in getting us…in the kind of long-term quagmires that we’ve seen in years past.”

Critics remained skeptical of the administration’s ability to reverse price increases. Jesse Lee, a senior advisor for Climate Power, characterized Vance’s speech as “damage control,” while Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel argued that Trump’s policies were endangering lives, harming Michigan’s manufacturing sector, and increasing living costs. “No amount of lip service from Vance will make up for the fact that Republicans have made life less affordable for working families,” Hertel stated.

Standing beside a banner reading “Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!,” Vance praised workers at the Auburn Hills facility for contributing to what he termed an “American Renaissance in manufacturing,” claiming that Michigan had added over 2,000 manufacturing jobs since Trump took office.

Federal data shows Michigan did gain approximately 2,100 manufacturing jobs last year between early February and December’s end. However, nearly all that growth occurred during February, Trump’s first full month in office. From March through December, Michigan actually lost 5,500 manufacturing jobs, complicating the administration’s narrative of sustained manufacturing growth.

The Vice President also addressed U.S.-Canada relations, particularly regarding the Gordie Howe International Bridge scheduled to open this spring. When asked if the bridge should open on schedule—following Trump’s earlier threats of delay—Vance avoided a direct answer. He acknowledged Canada’s importance as an ally and trading partner but echoed Trump’s position that Canada has taken advantage of the U.S. on trade matters.

“Our hope with Canada—and I think we’ll get there eventually—is, we’re going to get to a point where Canada treats our workers fairly, we treat their workers fairly, and they’re going to be a true ally and a true friend,” he said.

With midterm elections approaching in November, Vance contrasted congressional Republicans supporting Trump’s agenda with their Democratic counterparts. He credited Republican leadership with making average Americans “hundreds and hundreds of dollars richer” through initiatives like the “Big Beautiful Bill,” a comprehensive tax and spending package passed last year.

While the nonprofit Tax Foundation projects an average tax cut of $2,300 for Americans in 2026, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has noted the legislation could negatively impact some lower-income households by reducing future spending on Medicaid and food assistance.

Vance reserved his sharpest criticism for Democrats’ opposition to the administration’s deportation efforts, accusing them of defending illegal immigration. The Trump administration has deployed federal forces to several metropolitan areas as part of its campaign to identify and deport undocumented residents, leading to tensions in communities across the country.

When questioned about local concerns regarding planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in Michigan, Vance suggested that cooperation between local governments and federal agencies would prevent the kind of conflicts seen in other locations.