Donald Trump Disputes Energy Secretary's Gas Price Predictions

President Donald Trump and Energy Secretary Christopher Wright clashed in April 2026 over the timeline for gasoline prices to drop below $3 per gallon. The dispute followed a surge in fuel costs driven by a conflict with Iran that began in late February 2026, involving U.S.-Israel airstrikes and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Prices rose from a prewar average of $2.98 to over $4 per gallon.

On April 19, Wright stated during a CNN interview that while prices had likely peaked, they might not fall below $3 per gallon until 2027. Trump dismissed this assessment as "totally wrong," asserting that prices would drop "as soon as this ends," referring to the conflict and the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump suggested prices could fall significantly before the November midterm elections if the conflict and Iran's nuclear capabilities are resolved.

Following the public rebuke, Wright pivoted during a Tuesday testimony before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He walked back his specific timeline, stating he does not know the future of energy prices but maintained that gasoline prices had likely peaked about a week prior. While AAA reported a slight decrease in prices to around $4.02 per gallon, costs remain well above the previous year's $3.15 average, providing a political opening for Democrats to criticize the administration's energy costs.