Donald Trump is facing a fresh political headache after US diesel prices hit an all-time high, reviving his own past attacks on soaring fuel costs as the war with Iran sends energy markets higher. The average price of diesel reached $5.85 a gallon on Friday, according to the American Automobile Association, surpassing the previous record set in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine. Old Trump post comes roaring back The price surge has handed Democrats an opportunity to turn Trump’s own words against him. In a 2012 post, Trump wrote: “Gas prices are at crazy levels—fire Obama!” At the time, regular petrol averaged $3.68 a gallon. On Friday, it stood at roughly $4.15, nearly a dollar higher than a year earlier. Rep. Shri Thanedar seized on the resurfaced post, accusing Trump of creating the conditions behind the latest energy shock through his Iran policy. Hormuz crisis hits American wallets The surge is being linked to disruption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy route affected by the conflict. The consequences stretch far beyond petrol stations. Higher diesel prices increase transport costs for businesses, raising the prospect of more expensive deliveries, online orders and everyday goods as companies pass rising costs on to consumers. That could deepen economic pressure on households already facing elevated prices. Warnings Trump dismissed now loom large Trump had reportedly been warned before launching the Iran operation that military action could severely disrupt traffic through Hormuz. According to reports, Trump believed Iran would capitulate before closing the strategic waterway. Instead, the disruption has helped drive energy prices sharply higher — creating a political vulnerability for a president who has repeatedly made fuel affordability a central issue. With diesel now at a record and petrol climbing, Trump’s old complaints about expensive fuel have become an uncomfortable measure of the costs Americans are now facing under his watch. Trump haunted by resurfaced post as fuel costs reach all-time high
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