Energy Secretary Defends Trump Administration Record as High Gas Prices Persist Amid Iran War

Energy Secretary Chris Wright defended the administration’s economic record on Tuesday, arguing that President Donald Trump remains focused on lowering energy costs despite high gas prices that continue to burden consumers amid the ongoing war in Iran.

Appearing on ’s “America Reports,” Wright faced sharp questioning from anchor John Roberts regarding elevated fuel costs just a week before the midterm elections. An on-screen display during the broadcast showed the national average for regular gasoline standing at $4.27 per gallon, compared to $3.05 a year ago and $4.48 a month prior. Network graphics also showed diesel fuel averaging $6.35 per gallon, up from $3.66 the previous year.

Wright acknowledged the financial impact of foreign policy decisions on everyday consumers. Making sure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon has come at a cost, he said, noting that gasoline prices peaked several weeks earlier and had been slowly declining. He asserted that the administration wants to see costs fall further as conflict-related pressures ease.

The energy secretary contrasted the administration’s approach with Democratic energy policies, claiming that Republican strategies focus on energy addition and driving prices down. He maintained that ending Iran’s nuclear program has caused a temporary elevation of prices, calling it unfortunate that the spike coincides with election timing while emphasizing that the administration is governing for the long term.

Co-anchor Sandra Smith pressed Wright on the potential political fallout, asking how much of a liability high energy prices pose for the Republican Party seven days before the midterms. Wright acknowledged voter frustration, noting that energy is fundamental to daily life and that people are upset by higher costs.

Roberts pushed back on prospects for long-term relief during the interview, noting that a return to kinetic military activity in Iran could easily push prices back up. Federal Reserve price tracking indicates that Americans have paid an average of $3.74 for a gallon of unleaded gas during Trump’s second term, compared to a four-year national average of $3.69 under former President Joe Biden. Fuel tracker Patrick De Haan noted on social media earlier this month that prices had exceeded $4 per gallon for 158 days in 2026, marking a record compared to previous years.

The surge in fuel costs traces back to the outbreak of the war in Iran in late February 2026. At the start of the year, unleaded fuel averaged less than $3 per gallon. Slowed oil shipping subsequently drove averages above $4 per gallon in March, peaking at $4.65 in May before dipping to $4.48 by September.

Public dissatisfaction has registered heavily in polling, with a New York Times/Siena University poll showing that 73 percent of voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of gas prices. Meanwhile, the president addressed public sentiment at a rally last week, stating that he does not give a damn about higher gas costs for Americans and asserting that the U.S. was making hundreds of billions of dollars on oil because of the conflict.

To mitigate rising economic pressures, the administration has implemented several regulatory measures in recent months. These actions include efforts to increase domestic diesel production, granting tax breaks on commercial diesel fuel, and temporarily rolling back environmental rules on select gasoline blends.