Trump says he wants a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax as Iran tensions push fuel prices higher, calling for the tax to return when prices fall.
President Trump signaled Monday that he wants the federal gas tax temporarily suspended as the U.S. fight in Iran-related conflict extends into its 11th week and oil prices remain elevated.
Speaking first to CBS News. Trump said he wants the gas tax suspended “for a period of time” and indicated he would like it reinstated “when gas goes down.” Later that day. reporters asked the president how long any suspension would last while he was in the Oval Office. and he replied: “Til it’s appropriate.”
Any move to suspend the federal gas tax would require Congress to act.. As of now, the federal tax is 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel.. Trump’s comments therefore point not to an immediate executive change but to a political and legislative effort that would have to be negotiated on Capitol Hill.
The president’s renewed push comes as consumers continue to feel the strain at the pump. Regular gasoline had averaged just under $3 per gallon before the U.S. bombed Iran, and then rose by more than 50 percent to an average of $4.52 per gallon, according to AAA.
The White House’s focus on fuel costs aligns with a key pressure point in global energy flows: the Strait of Hormuz.. During the Iran war. blockades have stalled the movement of oil tankers through the strait. where about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil typically travels.. With supplies constrained, prices have climbed, amplifying the domestic impact.
Trump’s proposal also functions as a tacit acknowledgment of the political cost of sustained price increases.. A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll cited in the report found that eight in 10 Americans say gas prices are straining their budgets.. The burden cuts across party lines, with overwhelming majorities of Democrats, independents, and Republicans all reporting strain.
The same polling indicates that many voters associate the recent surge with the president himself.. Overall. 63 percent of Americans say they blame Trump “a great deal” or “a good amount” for higher gas prices. including more than 6 in 10 independents and nearly one-third of Republicans.. That distribution suggests any White House strategy—whether framed as relief through tax suspension or as part of a broader approach to the Iran crisis—could carry complicated political consequences depending on how long prices remain high.
While suspending the gas tax could offer short-term relief. it would also raise questions about what happens when oil prices stabilize and Congress is asked to revisit the policy again.. The president’s remarks that the tax would return “when gas goes down” leave timing and conditions open. and they point to a challenge lawmakers often face: fuel prices can be volatile. and tying legislation to shifting market conditions can complicate both forecasting and public expectations.
The proposal also underscores how foreign policy decisions can quickly translate into domestic economic pressure.. With major crude shipments affected by disruptions around Hormuz. the administration’s efforts to manage the Iran crisis appear to be carrying spillover effects on consumer costs—even as the immediate driver is external. involving shipping and regional supply routes rather than U.S.. production.
From a political standpoint. the move puts pressure on congressional leaders to decide whether immediate consumer relief is worth the legislative effort and any budget implications.. Because Trump cannot suspend the tax on his own. the outcome will likely depend on whether lawmakers across the aisle see a temporary pause as a practical way to address public frustration—and how they balance it against broader fiscal and policy considerations.
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