Trump Blamed for Gas Price Surge as Relief Unlikely Before Midterms
Polling shows Americans are blaming President Donald Trump for rising gas prices. High fuel costs and forecasts that prices will remain elevated through 2026 could amount to a serious threat to Republicans’ chances in this year’s elections.
According to a survey from Quinnipiac University, 65 percent of voters blamed Trump either a lot (51 percent) or somewhat (14 percent) for the recent increase, compared to the 34 percent and 11 percent who blamed him not much or not at all, respectively.
Speaking with CNN on Sunday, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said gas prices had “likely peaked,” but he added that they may not return to the pre-conflict level of under $3 per gallon until 2027.
Why It Matters
The administration has downplayed the issue of rising gas prices, with Trump recently telling reporters that fuel costs are “not very high.” The president has also maintained that it is a small price to pay for preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
However, public opinion is already tilted against the administration, and economists are warning of lasting economic fallout from the Iran war that could leave Trump’s party particularly vulnerable come November.
What To Know
According to AAA, the nationwide average price for a gallon of regular gas stood at $4.04 on Monday, down slightly compared to a week prior but up from about $3-where it was before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering the current conflict.
Quinnipiac University found that frustrations with the administration over this trend were heavily partisan: 97 percent of Democrats blamed Trump for the recent cost increase, compared to 22 percent of Republicans and 73 percent of independents.
The university surveyed 1,028 voters between April 9 and 13, after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran. However, this announcement has not been followed by a full reopening of the Hormuz Strait nor any material cessation of hostilities, with the U.S. now enacting its own blockade of the vital waterway.
Wright said Trump had the U.S. “on a pathway to a good ending in this conflict,” and that this would help to bring gas prices down.
However, experts say the impact on energy costs could endure even after a total resolution is reached. Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, estimates that Americans have paid an additional $21.3 billion at the pump since the war began. He said gas prices would likely not return to pre-conflict levels “even if the war ends soon.”
“The financial pain caused by the war and its fallout on consumer spending and the economy is set to intensify,” Zandi wrote on X on Sunday.
Bob McNally, the founder and president of the consulting firm Rapidan Energy Group, likewise told Newsweek, “It is likely we will feel the effects of energy disruptions through the end of the year.”
“Even if the conflict and disruptions were to end today, the ripple effects would be felt for many months,” he said. “Just restarting Gulf production and flows would take three to four months. Repairing damage to facilities could take longer.”
“Energy price spikes will spill over into other sectors of the economy,” McNally added.
What Happens Next
The two-week ceasefire announced on April 7 is due to end on Tuesday.
Trump said on Sunday that the U.S. had seized an Iranian-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz, and that Iranian forces had fired on a French vessel in “total violation” of the truce.
The president also said American officials would head to Pakistan for another round of talks on Monday evening, though Iranian officials have not signaled their willingness to engage in these negotiations.
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 6:02 AM.