Speaking at a rally in Georgia on Saturday, October 24, Trump predicted that fuel prices would “come way down” and claimed Americans were still paying less than they did under former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
“I can just see the fake headlines: President Trump is talking about all the money they’re making while people are suffering at the pump – that’ll be the headline,” Trump said. “But I said, ‘I don’t give a damn’.”
He continued: “I’m going to say it, we’re making a freaking fortune. Our country’s getting stronger and stronger all the time, and those pump prices are going to come down.”
The remarks triggered a wave of criticism on social media, with several commentators arguing that Trump’s emphasis on financial gains and national strength failed to address the immediate burden facing drivers.
Drop Site reporter Ryan Grim wrote that the comments showed “how much he hates the people who voted for him,” while national NFL analyst Lindsey Ok responded, “Well he just said it. Congrats everyone.”
Political commentator Ana Kasparian wrote, “The government tells us they hate us every single day,” while California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked the administration’s relationship with the oil industry, saying, “Congratulations to Big Oil on their very successful, record-profits presidency.”
Melanie D’Arrigo, of the Campaign for New York Health, said, “Just run this as an ad,” while California Representative Ted Lieu linked the controversy to the approaching election calendar, writing: “HEADLINE: trump is bragging about making money while people are suffering at the pump. November is coming.”
Journalist Mehdi Hasan questioned how the reaction might have differed if Biden had made similar remarks at a public rally, while New Yorker writer Susan Glasser described Trump’s comments as “the epigraph for the entire Trump 2.0 presidency.”
The controversy follows earlier criticism of Trump’s response to rising gasoline costs associated with the war on Iran.
Two months earlier, Trump said he would “never apologies” for higher fuel prices, arguing that Americans were paying more to “prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons”.
“So remember that, when you have to pay a little bit more, you’re at $4. It’s OK, I mean, it’s… I’m not… I’m not… I’ll never apologies; I did the right thing,” he added.
With the midterms approaching, gasoline prices and the economic consequences of the war on Iran are likely to remain important issues for voters assessing the administration’s record.