Trump says refinery shortages, not Hormuz, are driving up gas prices
President Donald Trump said on Oct. 5, 2026 that the recent rise in gasoline prices was caused by a shortage of refineries, particularly in Russia and California, rather than any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
The comment came during a press briefing on the White House South Lawn before the president left for Joint Base Andrews. Trump emphasized that record volumes of oil continue to flow through Hormuz, but a lack of processing capacity is limiting supply to U.S. pumps.
In a Truth Social post earlier that afternoon, Trump wrote, “What’s driving up gasoline is no longer the Strait of Hormuz… the word, ‘refineries,’ where Russia’s are being blown up by Ukraine, and where ours are being closed up in blue states, like California, by the Dumocrats.” He repeated the point to reporters, adding that the war in Ukraine and state policies were “causing a lot of problems.”
According to the American Automobile Association, a gallon of regular gasoline averaged $4.37 on Monday, about 11 cents lower than a week earlier but still well above last year’s summer average. Diesel prices were reported at $6.32 per gallon.
Data from shipping analyst Kpler showed the Gulf of Hormuz moving an average of 18.3 million barrels per day at the end of September, topping pre‑war levels for half of the month. The flow suggests that supply disruptions in the narrow waterway are not the primary driver of domestic price spikes.
Trump also referenced Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries and the shutdown of facilities in California, blaming “the Dumocrats” for the latter. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Fox News the president would announce an energy‑related initiative during a trip to Nebraska that evening.
White House officials declined to comment on the specifics of the planned announcement, though reports indicate Trump intends to direct the Treasury Department to review diesel taxes and expand tax‑exempt fuel options for agriculture and transportation.
