WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump on Sunday rejected his own energy secretary’s warning that U.S. gasoline prices may remain above 3 dollars a gallon until next year, calling the forecast “totally wrong” and insisting costs will fall sooner once the war with Iran ends.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright had told CNN that shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz a critical passage for global oil supplies could keep prices elevated well into 2027. Wright noted that prices had already peaked at 4.04 dollars per gallon but cautioned that relief would be slow.
Trump, speaking in an interview with The Hill, contradicted that assessment, saying Americans would see prices drop “as soon as this ends,” referring to the ongoing conflict.
The public clash highlights a recurring pattern in Trump’s presidency, where he has openly disputed the views of his own officials. In 2018, he dismissed U.S. intelligence agencies’ findings on Russian election interference. He has also sparred with Federal Reserve leaders over interest rate hikes, arguing they were stifling economic growth.
Gas prices have become a political flashpoint, with inflation and household costs weighing heavily on voters ahead of the midterm elections. Analysts say the disagreement underscores the administration’s struggle to balance political messaging with market realities, as Americans continue to feel the strain of higher fuel costs.
