Gasoline Reaches $4.29 as Trump Tells Voters to Wait for Relief After Midterms

The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline reached $4.29 on Monday, a sharp increase from $2.98 before the war with Iran began nearly eight months ago. Diesel prices surpassed $6 per gallon last month, setting a record, and now average $6.35, up from $3.76 in February. These costs are straining household budgets as the midterm elections approach on Nov. 3.

President Donald Trump has struggled to contain these energy costs, which have become a central issue for working families and a potential obstacle for Republicans seeking to maintain control of Congress. Low gas prices were a key pledge during his second presidential campaign, yet the conflict with Iran has left him searching for solutions while promising that conditions will improve.

Crude oil prices have remained volatile as markets react to the uncertain trajectory of the war. Brent crude exceeded $100 per barrel earlier in the conflict, up from approximately $70 in 2025. While prices cooled to $71.57 amid hopes for peace in the summer, they spiked past $101 again in September as fighting escalated. This volatility has created whiplash for consumers who see little immediate relief at the pump.

Trump has repeatedly framed high fuel costs as a necessary expense to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. He has also blamed former President Joe Biden for the broader economic issues while describing the global oil squeeze as beneficial for U.S. production. At a campaign rally in Georgia over the weekend, he told supporters, “We’re making a freaking fortune.”

In his 2026 State of the Union address, delivered days before the Feb. 28 attacks on Iran, Trump touted gas prices below $2.30 in most states. He cited a visit to Iowa where he saw gasoline at $1.85, a four-year low. Since then, his rhetoric has shifted. In early September, he stated he did not expect oil prices to drop before the midterms, saying, “I think it’s going to take a little bit longer than the midterm.”

At a recent stop in North Carolina, Trump downplayed the surge, calling it a “very inexpensive price to pay for what we’ve done.” He added, “It’s a little more. Frankly, even if it was a lot more.” At that time, gasoline averaged $4.37 per gallon, or $1.18 more than the same period in 2025.

Earlier this month, Trump announced a deal to purchase Russian diesel to dampen price spikes, a shift from years of U.S. pressure on Moscow. He claimed the United States retained control of the Strait of Hormuz, although traffic remains below pre-war levels due to threats from Tehran. He wrote on social media that lower prices for farmers, ranchers, and truckers are his “Greatest Priority.”

The administration’s latest response is a harvest fuel relief program. Trump claimed the initiative would provide $8 billion in support for farmers. At a Kansas rally, he said, “When Republicans win, we will pass even more funding for our farmers.” He also asked the crowd to “pretend please that I’m on the ballot.” Diesel nationwide averaged $6.32 per gallon, a 74% increase from the $3.63 price recorded a year earlier.