Author | Johnathan
I don’t know about everybody else, but these gas prices are getting ridiculous. Every time people pull into a gas station, it feels like another reminder that simply getting to work, taking the kids to school, going to the grocery store or traveling across town has become more expensive.
As of September 16, 2026, AAA’s national average for regular gasoline was approximately $4.37 per gallon. Just one year earlier, the national average was around $3.19. That is a major difference for families who may have to fill their vehicles several times every month. And this is where I believe President Donald Trump has some explaining to do.
During Trump’s political campaigns, energy prices were a major part of his message. Americans repeatedly heard promises about bringing energy costs down. Now people are looking at gasoline above $4 nationally and wondering what happened.
Of course, a president doesn’t personally decide what your local gas station charges. Gas prices are influenced by crude oil prices, refinery operations, supply and demand, taxes, transportation costs and international events. But presidents make foreign-policy and energy decisions that can affect the conditions surrounding those markets.
The Iran Conflict Cannot Be Ignored
One of the biggest issues right now is the conflict involving the United States and Iran. Continued instability in the Middle East has affected global oil markets, particularly because of concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and other important energy routes.
That matters because when crude oil becomes more expensive, Americans often eventually feel it at the pump.
This is why I don’t think the Trump administration should be able to separate itself completely from this conversation. Trump is the sitting president. His administration’s foreign-policy decisions are part of the environment in which today’s energy markets are operating, even though they are not the only factor determining fuel prices.
Trump himself has connected the Iran conflict with gasoline prices, saying he expects prices to fall significantly once the conflict ends.
So naturally, people are going to ask: How much are Americans paying because of what is happening overseas?
Regular Americans Are Feeling It
This isn’t simply about complaining over an extra few dollars at the gas station.
Think about someone who has to drive 30 or 40 miles to work every day. Think about parents driving children back and forth to school and activities. Think about people living in rural communities where public transportation isn’t a realistic option. Those people can’t simply decide they’re not buying gas this week.
Then there’s diesel. Trucks transport groceries, clothing, building supplies and countless other products around the country. Airlines are also dealing with substantially higher fuel costs, with several major U.S. carriers adjusting their schedules as they respond to the increase.
When transportation becomes more expensive, those costs can spread throughout the economy.
That is why fuel prices matter far beyond the number displayed on the gas-station sign.
Americans Deserve More Than Political Talking Points
I don’t care which political party is in charge. When Americans are paying significantly more for something as basic as gasoline, the people running the country should have to answer questions about it.
If Trump wants credit when energy prices decline, then I believe it’s fair for Americans to question his administration when prices climb dramatically as well. At the same time, blaming Trump for every penny of the increase would ignore the complicated reality of global oil markets.
What Americans need are solutions.
What is the administration doing to bring fuel costs down? What is the long-term strategy concerning Iran and the broader Middle East? How will the government respond if crude oil remains around or above $100 per barrel? And how long are American families expected to absorb these higher costs?
Those are legitimate questions.
At the end of the day, Republicans, Democrats and independents all pull up to the same gas stations. The pump doesn’t ask how you voted before it takes your money.
KIM Discussion: Do you believe President Trump’s policies and the conflict with Iran have contributed significantly to today’s high fuel prices, or do you believe the increases are primarily the result of broader global oil-market conditions?
Sources
American Automobile Association. (2026, September 10). National average jumps 13 cents in one week. AAA Gas Prices.
American Automobile Association. (2026, August 27). Gas prices remain high as August will likely set new record. AAA Gas Prices.
Reuters. (2026, September 13). Trump says U.S. could stay in Iran and keep oil, like Venezuela deal.
Reuters. (2026, September 13). Oil settles higher after Saudi strikes stoke supply worries.
Reuters. (2026, September 16). American, United, Southwest scale back schedules as fuel shock reshapes flying.
Reuters. (2026, August 27). Trump to meet refiners, fuel retailers as Iran war boosts gas prices ahead of midterms, sources say.
