Gregg Nunziata The White House is facing a backlash after celebrating falling petrol prices, with critics accusing President Donald Trump’s administration of taking credit for easing a crisis it helped create. A social media post from the White House declared that oil was flowing again and fuel prices had fallen below $4 a gallon nationally. Instead of applause, the message triggered a wave of criticism from across the political spectrum. A Victory Lap That Few Were Ready to Join Among the sharpest responses came from conservative lawyer Gregg Nunziata, who dismissed the claim as a classic case of an arsonist boasting about putting out a fire. His criticism reflects a broader argument now gaining traction: fuel prices surged after the outbreak of war with Iran and the disruption of energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. While prices have started to ease, many voters remain focused on the damage already done. For households and businesses hit by soaring costs, relief has arrived slowly. The Hormuz Bottleneck Isn’t Over Despite the ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, analysts warn that energy markets will not return to normal overnight. The strategic waterway carries a significant share of the world’s oil exports. Tankers delayed by the conflict are still working through backlogs, while producers and refiners face weeks of adjustments before lower crude prices fully filter through to consumers. That means motorists could continue paying elevated prices long after the fighting has stopped. Why Petrol Prices Fall More Slowly Than They Rise Economists have long observed a frustrating pattern in fuel markets. Prices often shoot up rapidly when crude oil becomes more expensive, but fall far more gradually when costs decline. Industry experts describe the phenomenon as “up like a rocket, down like a feather”. For consumers, that translates into a lingering squeeze on household budgets even when headline energy prices begin moving in the right direction. Political Risks Remain The White House hoped lower prices would reinforce its claim that the Iran conflict ended successfully. Instead, the reaction has highlighted a political challenge. Many voters appear less interested in modest price declines than in why prices spiked in the first place. As economic pressures persist, the administration may find that declaring victory is easier than convincing the public that it has actually been won. The arsonist putting out fires: Former Rubio staffer tears apart Trump lies
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