The Trump administration is touting the recent dip in gas prices as a win for the White House, but a closer look reveals that many Americans are actually paying more at the pump than they were just a few months ago. Despite the drop from last year, fuel costs have quietly crept up since Trump returned to office in January.
According to AAA, the national average for regular gasoline was $3.21 per gallon as of early Friday a decrease from $3.27 a week ago and down significantly from $3.63 a year ago. But that’s still higher than the $3.08 per gallon Americans were paying just a month ago. For everyday drivers, the White House’s celebration may feel premature.
Rising gas prices were a major pain point during much of Joe Biden’s presidency, contributing to widespread economic frustration. Trump capitalized on that during his 2024 campaign, promising to “cut energy prices in half” through aggressive deregulation and expanded drilling efforts. But while prices dipped briefly, they’ve been climbing again, leaving some wondering whether his promises will hold up over time.
Energy prices have recently fallen because global oil markets are reacting to economic uncertainty, much of it caused by the Trump administration’s sweeping tariff policies. WTI and Brent Crude dropped more than 4 percent on Thursday alone, a reflection of jittery investors bracing for a slowdown. Crude oil prices heavily influence the cost of gasoline, so the recent decline helped shave a few cents off the average pump price.
Still, prices remain elevated compared to earlier this year, when Trump reentered the White House. Back in January, gas averaged $3.08 a gallon nationwide. It rose to $3.12 in February and remained above $3.10 through March. While prices are lower than they were a year ago, they’ve steadily increased over Trump’s first three months back in office.
Patrick De Haan, a leading petroleum analyst at GasBuddy, cautioned Americans not to be misled by the headlines. “While gas prices are down from a year ago, they’re actually up for the month of March,” he posted on social media, noting the jump from $3.08 to $3.21 in just a few weeks.
De Haan explained that seasonal factors like the switch to more expensive summer gasoline blends and routine refinery maintenance are driving current price increases not anything directly related to Trump’s policies. But he added that Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs is likely to accelerate oil price declines by increasing fears of a global economic slowdown, which could ultimately affect fuel costs.
The White House has tried to frame the current economic environment as the start of a new “Golden Age of America,” pointing to falling inflation and job growth. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has claimed that Trump’s deregulation efforts are already lowering prices on everything from medicine to auto insurance. But for now, gas prices remain higher than when Trump took office, and experts warn that the administration’s policies may unintentionally contribute to further volatility.
While lower gas prices can help ease inflation, they may also signal broader economic problems ahead. If oil prices continue to drop due to fears of recession spurred by tariff wars and strained global trade relationships Americans could end up facing higher prices again in the long run, despite any short-term relief at the pump.