President Donald Trump indicated Sunday that American motorists should not expect a significant drop in gasoline prices before November, during an interview with Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo on her program “Sunday Morning Futures.” His remarks, delivered amidst escalating tensions with Iran, suggested that pump prices could remain at current levels or even increase.
"It could be the same, or maybe a little bit higher." President Donald Trump
The average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline has seen a sharp increase recently, climbing from approximately $3.60 a month ago to about $4.13, according to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA). This surge has placed additional financial strain on households across the country, making President Trump’s forecast particularly impactful. When asked directly by Bartiromo about the outlook for fuel costs, President Trump stated, “It could be the same, or maybe a little bit higher.” This blunt assessment visibly surprised Bartiromo, whose reaction was noted during the broadcast.
The President attributed the primary driver of the current fuel spike to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the global oil supply passes. Iranian forces have maintained effective control over the waterway since the conflict began 45 days prior, contributing to a sustained upward trend in crude oil markets.
Sunday marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. President Trump revealed that ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran had collapsed over the weekend. In response, he announced a decisive military action: the United States Navy would move to seal off the Strait of Hormuz entirely, effectively blocking all inbound and outbound vessel traffic. This blockade was implemented precisely as stated by President Trump, commencing Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern time.
Bartiromo pressed President Trump on the potential ramifications of this naval action on an already volatile global energy market. The President acknowledged the immediate impact, responding, “I think so. I think so.” He expressed a long-term optimism regarding energy prices, suggesting that while short-term turbulence was likely, prices would eventually decrease. “Eventually it’s going to be lower,” President Trump said, adding later, “It might not happen initially, but it’s going down.”
President Trump also provided a stark assessment of the damage inflicted upon Iran’s military capabilities during the conflict. He claimed that Iranian naval forces in the region had been decimated, leaving the country with minimal remaining military infrastructure of consequence. “We’ve wiped out their whole country, essentially,” President Trump declared. He further specified the vulnerability of Iran’s civilian infrastructure, noting, “The only thing left really is their water, their desalinization plants, their electric generating plants which are very easy to hit.” President Trump was direct about the potential consequences of targeting such facilities, stating, “We could have them all done-down. And I mean, down like you couldn’t have electricity for ten years because it takes you ten years to build those plants from scratch.” While making it clear that such options remain on the table, he also expressed reluctance to order such strikes.
The conversation also touched upon the broader landscape of American alliances. President Trump voiced strong dissatisfaction with NATO partners, criticizing their perceived lack of support during the conflict. “I’m very disappointed in NATO. They weren’t there for us. We pay trillions of dollars for NATO, and they weren’t there for us,” he told Bartiromo. He warned that Washington’s financial contributions to the alliance would be subject to “very serious examination.”
In attributing responsibility for the current geopolitical and economic challenges, President Trump laid blame squarely on his predecessor, describing Joe Biden as “grossly incompetent.” He asserted that decisions made during Biden’s tenure formed the basis of the country’s present entanglements. President Trump also reiterated his claims regarding the 2020 election, stating, “Look, the election was rigged. You know that? I know that. Everybody knows that now,” to which Bartiromo replied, “Yep.” He concluded this point by asserting, “And it’s all come out, and it’s coming out.”
As the 2026 midterm cycle begins to take shape, Republicans currently hold control of both chambers of Congress. President Trump’s approval numbers have reportedly seen a downward trend amid the financial pressures linked to the ongoing conflict, a factor that historically influences congressional election outcomes. The escalating situation in the Strait of Hormuz and its potential impact on global energy markets are expected to remain central issues in the public discourse.
