Trump Backs Temporary Federal Gas Tax Pause as Prices Hit $4.52

President Donald Trump said Monday he supports temporarily suspending the federal gasoline tax as prices have climbed sharply amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. The national average for regular gas reached $4.52 per gallon, up more than 50 percent since the start of escalations in late February, according to AAA data.

Trump made the comments during an interview with CBS News, describing the move as a short-term measure that would remain in place until prices ease. "We're going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we'll let it phase back in," he said. The 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal excise tax on gasoline, along with a higher rate on diesel, cannot be lifted by executive action and would require legislation from Congress. Republican senators including Josh Hawley of Missouri have already signaled plans to introduce such bills.

The price surge stems primarily from disruptions in global oil flows tied to the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran. Partial closures and threats around the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly one-fifth of world oil trade, have tightened supplies. Iranian strikes on regional energy infrastructure have added to the strain. Energy analyst Eric Nuttall warned early this month that the situation could produce the largest energy crisis in modern history, potentially requiring demand rationing within weeks if flows remain constrained.

Trump has repeatedly predicted that prices will fall once a diplomatic resolution is reached, telling reporters the Iranian regime's latest counteroffer on nuclear issues amounted to a poorly conceived proposal. A month-old ceasefire has held in uneven fashion, but talks appear stalled. The administration has not embraced broader industry bailouts, with Trump noting that airlines have managed the jump in jet fuel costs without federal intervention so far.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has sought to tie the price increases directly to the White House, noting that the average now stands at $4.55 and questioning whether current conditions match administration promises of affordability. Jeffries previously cautioned against politicizing pump prices during the prior administration, a stance now reversed as Democrats seek to highlight household costs ahead of the midterms. Polling shows nearly 60 percent of voters view the increases as a major problem for their budgets.

Policy experts have long questioned the effectiveness of gas tax holidays. Past state-level experiments show most of the savings are captured by refiners and distributors rather than passed fully to drivers, while the revenue loss reduces funding for highway maintenance and transit projects. The federal tax supports the Highway Trust Fund, and even a temporary pause would require offsets or cuts elsewhere if extended. With midterm control of the House in play, both parties face pressure to address voter frustration over energy costs without committing to measures that alter underlying supply dynamics.

The episode also revives questions about long-term U.S. energy posture. Earlier rollbacks of fuel efficiency standards and electric vehicle incentives have left consumers more exposed to oil price swings. Sustained high prices could accelerate interest in alternatives, yet the immediate political incentive remains short-term relief. Negotiations over any tax suspension bill will test whether Republicans can deliver visible action before November while Democrats attempt to frame the increases as a consequence of foreign policy choices.