This was shocking to hear from a once loyal Trump ally.
Former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is publicly blaming President Donald Trump for America’s rising gas prices, arguing that the ongoing conflict with Iran is hitting drivers, truckers and household budgets across the country.
Greene, the former Georgia congresswoman and once-prominent Trump ally, delivered the criticism in a video posted to Instagram while standing outside a California gas station.
The prices displayed behind her immediately highlighted the issue.
Regular gasoline was listed at $6.19 per gallon, while mid-grade and premium fuel were even higher. Diesel was posted at $8.49 per gallon.
For Greene, those numbers were evidence that American consumers are paying too much.
“I don’t care if it’s Georgia or California,” Greene said before calling the fuel prices “ridiculous.”
Her comments come as gasoline, diesel and crude oil prices remain elevated amid continued instability surrounding the conflict with Iran and the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Gas Prices Jump Across America
Fuel costs have become an increasingly significant issue for American households.
AAA reported that the national average for regular gasoline reached approximately $4.44 per gallon on September 17.
That was roughly 16 cents higher than one week earlier and more than $1 above the national average from the same period a year ago.
Crude oil prices have also remained elevated as uncertainty continues around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil and petroleum products.
Disruptions or uncertainty surrounding the waterway can affect global oil supplies, refinery operations and transportation costs.
Those pressures can eventually show up at local gas stations.
Diesel Prices Raise Broader Economic Concerns
Greene argued that Americans should not view higher diesel prices as a problem affecting truck drivers alone.
“Everything you buy — your food, your supplies, all of your goods — gets delivered by diesel,” she said.
That concern has broader economic implications.
Diesel fuel plays a major role in trucking, shipping, agriculture, construction and other industries that move goods throughout the United States.
When diesel costs rise, businesses can face higher transportation expenses. Those additional costs can eventually influence prices for groceries, household goods, building materials and other everyday products.
That makes rising fuel prices particularly important for retirees, seniors and families living on fixed or limited incomes.
Greene Directly Blames Trump
Greene did not limit her criticism to energy markets.
She directly connected the higher prices to U.S. policy toward Iran.
“The war in Iran has got to stop,” Greene said. “This is Trump’s fault.”
That statement represents another major break between Greene and Trump after years in which she was considered one of his most outspoken supporters in Congress.
Greene resigned from Congress earlier this year following a widening political dispute with the president.
Trump had previously withdrawn his support for her after disagreements emerged over several issues.
Former Allies Have Grown Apart
Greene had criticized the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and argued that Washington needed to place greater emphasis on reducing the cost of living for Americans.
She has also strongly criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Those disputes contributed to a dramatic deterioration in her relationship with Trump.
Her latest comments about gas prices show that the disagreement has now expanded into one of the most politically sensitive economic issues facing Americans: the cost of energy.
White House Defends Trump’s Energy Strategy
The White House rejects Greene’s characterization of the situation.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said Trump remains committed to expanding American energy production, reducing household costs and increasing the amount of money families are able to keep.
The administration has also argued that improved stability and greater control of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could eventually help oil and gasoline prices decline toward levels seen before the conflict.
Whether that happens — and how quickly — could have significant consequences for consumers.
AAA reported on September 17 that the national average for regular gasoline had climbed to about $4.44 per gallon.
The organization also noted that crude oil remained near $100 per barrel amid continued volatility surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
Gas Prices Have Risen Sharply
The increase becomes even clearer when today’s prices are compared with conditions before the conflict escalated.
AAA reported a national average of approximately $2.98 per gallon shortly before the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran.
That means the typical nationwide price has increased substantially since then.
Gas prices can be influenced by numerous factors, including crude oil prices, refinery capacity, seasonal gasoline blends, consumer demand, transportation costs, taxes and geopolitical developments.
The current rise has coincided with elevated crude oil prices and continued instability affecting one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Inflation Could Feel The Impact
Higher energy costs could create additional problems beyond the gas pump.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has warned that elevated petroleum prices connected with the Iran conflict could place additional upward pressure on inflation.
According to the CBO, year-over-year inflation as measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index could be approximately 0.5 percentage points higher in the first quarter of 2027 than the agency projected earlier this year.
Core PCE inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, could also be about 0.3 percentage points higher than previously forecast.
The CBO explained that petroleum prices affect consumers both directly and indirectly because transportation and shipping expenses are built into the cost of many goods and services.
In other words, Americans can feel higher energy prices even when they are not standing at a gas pump.
Higher Fuel Costs Can Hit Household Budgets
For many Americans over 50, higher fuel prices can be particularly noticeable.
Retirees and households on fixed incomes may have less flexibility to absorb sudden increases in gasoline, groceries, utilities and transportation expenses.
Workers who commute long distances can also see a meaningful increase in monthly expenses when gasoline rises by $1 or more per gallon.
Small businesses can face similar pressure.
Companies that depend on delivery vehicles, trucking, construction equipment or agricultural machinery may experience rising operating costs as diesel and gasoline prices increase.
Those costs can eventually be passed along to customers.
Energy Prices Become A Growing Political Issue
The debate over gas prices is likely to remain closely tied to broader arguments about U.S. energy policy, foreign policy and inflation.
Greene argues that ending the Iran conflict is necessary to relieve pressure on American consumers.
The Trump administration, meanwhile, maintains that its strategy will ultimately strengthen U.S. energy security and help stabilize prices.
Those are competing political claims.
What is measurable right now is the price Americans are paying.
AAA reported on September 17 that the national average for regular gasoline stood at approximately $4.44 per gallon, while diesel averaged about $6.40 nationally.
For millions of households, those numbers can affect far more than the cost of filling a vehicle.
They can influence transportation expenses, grocery bills, shipping costs and the overall cost of living.
As the conflict continues, Americans will be watching closely to see whether fuel prices begin to fall — or whether higher energy costs create additional pressure on household budgets and inflation.