Trump Secures Russian Diesel as Fuel Prices Hit Records
President Donald Trump reached a deal with Russia for diesel exports as U.S. fuel prices hit record highs following military conflicts in the Middle East.
U.S. gasoline and diesel prices have reached record highs ahead of the November 2026 election, with national gas averages between $4.20 and $4.25 per gallon and diesel exceeding $6.30. These spikes contradict campaign promises by Donald Trump to lower gasoline costs below $2 a gallon.
The price surge follows a February 28 joint military attack by the United States and Israel against Iran, which triggered Iranian retaliatory strikes on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Global supply has been further strained by Houthi rebel attacks on Saudi refineries and Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries.
To address the crisis, President Trump issued an executive order permitting the use of tax-exempt offroad diesel on highways and established an $8 billion relief program for truckers and farmers. He also reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscow to export 6 million barrels of diesel. While the White House describes the high costs as a small price to pay to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, critics and some Republican senators argue the deal with Russia rewards aggression.
