Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) accused President Donald Trump of disregarding Americans struggling with rising gasoline prices after the president celebrated the profits U.S. oil and gas companies are generating amid the ongoing war with Iran.
Sanders Slams Trump Over Gas Prices
Sanders took to X over the weekend, saying Trump had “just said the quiet part out loud” by dismissing concerns about higher fuel prices while his wealthy allies benefit.
“He doesn’t ‘give a damn’ about higher gas prices, as long as his billionaire friends are making a fortune,” Sanders wrote. “Trump doesn’t tell the truth very often, but he did last night!”
ExxonMobil Holdings Corp. (NYSE:XOM) shares have climbed over 49% year-to-date; ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) has gained 55.95% during the same period while Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) has risen by 49.59%.
Trump Dismisses Concerns Over High Gas Prices
Sanders’ criticism followed Trump’s Saturday rally in Perry, Georgia, where the president campaigned for Republican Senate nominee Rep. Mike Collins and gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson.
Anticipating negative media coverage, Trump said reporters would focus on his comments about oil industry profits while Americans struggled at the pump.
“I don’t give a damn. We’re making a freaking fortune,” Trump told supporters, adding that his advisers had urged him not to discuss the issue.
Trump argued that oil prices were temporarily elevated and would fall sharply once the war with Iran ended. He also highlighted the vast quantities of oil and the numerous ships around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy transit route.
David Axelrod, Gavin Newsom Also Criticize Trump
Democratic strategist David Axelrod, a former adviser to President Barack Obama, also criticized Trump’s social media remarks.
“He’s making money like he’s never made before. And he doesn’t give a damn about high gas prices,” Axelrod wrote, adding that it was “not a great closing message.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) joined the criticism, sarcastically congratulating Big Oil on its “very successful, record-profits presidency.”
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also weighed in, attributing temporarily high gasoline prices to Republicans being in power and urging people to “Vote.”
Gas Prices Climb As Midterms Approach
The national average gasoline price reached $4.29 per gallon Sunday, up from $3.06 a year earlier, according to AAA—an increase of about 40%.
Oil prices also reached their highest level since May on Friday, as the Iran war and shipping risks in the Middle East continued to weigh on energy markets.
Earlier in the week, GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said Americans have spent an additional $138.8 billion on gasoline and diesel since March 1 amid Iran war-driven energy shocks, money he noted could have purchased hundreds of thousands of homes.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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