Nearly half of Americans say they are cutting daily expenses to cope with skyrocketing gas prices resulting from President Donald Trump's war in Iran, now approaching its tenth week. A recent Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll reveals that 44 percent of Americans are driving less due to high fuel costs, while 42 percent have reduced household expenses. Additionally, 34 percent have altered their travel or vacation plans.
Record Gas Prices
National average gas prices reached $4.43 per gallon on Saturday, according to the AAA motor club, compared to $3.15 per gallon at the same time last year. Patrick de Haan, a petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, noted that this marked a sobering new record. "The national average price of gasoline has never been higher on the second day in May than it is today," he wrote on social media. De Haan warned that prices could rise further in the coming weeks, stating, "We are entering into what could become a much larger energy crisis in the weeks ahead, and instead of realizing a potential mistake, both the White House and Iran seem to be dug in."
White House Response
A White House spokesperson, Taylor Rogers, told the Post that Trump has been "straightforward with the American people" about the "temporary, short-term disruptions" of the conflict. Rogers added, "The President brought oil and gas prices down to multiyear lows at record speed, and as traffic in the Strait of Hormuz normalizes, these energy prices will plummet once again." However, an April Quinnipiac University poll found that about 65 percent of U.S. voters blame Trump either "a lot" or "some" for high gas prices.
Conflict Developments
Trump informed Congress on Friday that hostilities with Iran have been "terminated," and the U.S. has not exchanged fire with Iran since April 7. On Saturday, Trump announced he was reviewing a new peace plan from Iran but warned the nation has "not yet paid a big enough price." In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, "I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years." He also told reporters there is a "possibility" he could order new strikes if Iran were to "misbehave."
