Let's talk about Trump officials, gas price promises, and the Energy secretary not knowing energy... Belle of the Ranch

[TexasTowelie]

Well, howdy there internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about Trump officials, gas price promises, and the energy secretary not knowing energy.

Trump officials have been promising a return to low gas prices for quite a while. The promises have been constant and promised a return to the prices Americans enjoyed before Trump decided to upend world energy with his ill-advised campaign in Iran. Trump's energy secretary Chris Wright told the country back in March that it was very possible gas prices would drop below three bucks again before summer. Then in April, he said that "Prices have likely peaked and they'll start going down."

Both of those were considered laughable statements by anybody who understands economics when they were made. But he, like the rest of the Trump administration, made their promises with conviction. People believed them and expected fuel prices to drop any day now. Obviously, they have not. Prices have continued to soar since Wright predicted a peak in April. I think we're up about another half a dollar a gallon since then.

Now, the Trump administration is striking a very different tone. It's a tone that says they know they're running out of runway to get prices down before the midterms. And I don't mean back to where they were. I just mean back down so people aren't struggling.

Trump's Secretary of Energy said, "I can't predict the price of energy in the short term or even the medium term." My dude, you're the energy secretary. Can't predict short-term energy prices. I mean, yeah, we know. We've seen his previous predictions, but also Trump's energy secretary flat out saying he can't predict energy prices in the short term is funny because he should be able to. Fuel prices will be up in the short term and in the medium term. You broke the energy market. There, there's your prediction.

He's trying to point to other things and reluctantly saying, "We're by far the world's largest producer of oil. We're by far the world's largest producer of natural gas. There's been no rise in the price of natural gas. And that's the largest primary energy source for the United States. That's for home heating. That's for electric. Gasoline and diesel prices are up and they will remain up while this conflict's in place.

Let's be clear, that's not even assured at this point either. Given Iran's dominant position on the strait, Trump's inability to coordinate with allies, and the unwillingness to admit that it was a bad idea to lie to the American people and start an unnecessary war, there's a nonzero chance that Trump messes this up so bad there's an extended disruption to energy even after Trump pretends he got what he wanted.

In some good news, the Trump administration seems to understand they're out of their depth and Wright said, "We are constantly looking for different ideas."

Here, I've got one for you. US Senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Mark Kelly of Arizona, I feel like they know who he is. introduced the Gas Prices Relief Act to lower gas prices by suspending the federal gas tax through October 1, 2026. It's about 18 cents a gallon on gas and 24 cents on diesel. They introduced it back in March and Trump's still taxing you.

Even though a few days ago the White House said, "A gas tax suspension is not currently under consideration, it now looks like he's trying to take credit for the idea that too late Trump refused to push months ago."

The key takeaway here is that gas prices are up. They'll be up for a while. and Trump really doesn't seem to care.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.