has put the spotlight on one of the most sensitive issues for millions of Americans: the price of gasoline. The president of the United States demanded this Monday an immediate reduction in the cost of fuel and even went so far as to publicly set what he considers the appropriate price should be.
“Lower prices now”the president came to demand through a message published on his social network, Truth Social, where he defended that the current price of oil does not justify the prices that consumers pay at service stations.
Trump maintained that a barrel of crude oil is currently around $68, a figure much lower than that recorded during the moments of maximum international tension in recent months.
The goal: gasoline at $2.50
The president went beyond a simple request and raised a concrete reference for the market. According to his criteria, gasoline should sell for around $2.50 per gallon, a figure he considers reasonable given the current conditions of the energy market.
In addition, he took the opportunity to attack California, one of the states where fuel is usually more expensive, by demanding a reduction in taxes on gasoline.
In Trump’s opinion, Much of the extra cost that drivers pay on the West Coast is due to the tax burdens imposed by state authorities.
Oil moves away from crisis highs
The statements come in a very different context than just a few weeks ago. During the most delicate moments of the war in uncertainty about global oil supplies sent prices soaring and pushed gasoline above $4 per gallon in some areas of the country.
Concern was especially concentrated around al one of the most important energy routes in the world, through which a significant part of global oil transits.
However, the situation has changed significantly since The United States and Iran reached a road map on June 21 to move towards a nuclear agreement and consolidate a ceasefire after more than one hundred days of conflict.
The reopening of the strait and the reduction of geopolitical risk contributed to stabilizing energy markets and moderating the price of crude oil.
A politically charged message
Although market data currently puts the national average price of gasoline at around $2.40 per gallon, the reality varies considerably between states.
Southern regions tend to have the lowest prices, while the west coast and especially California maintain significantly higher costs.
The pressure of Trump on the oil companies also fits with one of the most recurring economic messages of his presidency: presenting the reduction in the cost of energy as a key tool to combat inflation and alleviate the daily expenses of families.
Therefore, beyond the numbers, their demand seeks to convey a simple idea to voters: if oil goes down, gasoline should too. And the sooner, the better.
