As President Donald Trump's war with Iran has caused oil prices to surge, spiking gas prices across the country, local news media have spotlighted the various impacts these record high prices have had on Americans. Many outlets have rejected a harmful narrative pushed by Trump and right-wing media that gas prices will “come down quickly†or “drop like a rock†once the conflict is resolved, which misleads consumers about how long they can expect high fuel costs.
As reported by the Independent, during an interview on the New York Post's Pod Force One podcast aired on June 3, Trump “again insisted that gas prices will plummet to $1.85 per gallon as soon as the Iran war is over.†One local news report in Georgia suggests that at least some drivers are buying what the president's selling: “It's sad we have to pay that much for gas, but it'll be over soon,†a local resident told WDEF. Â
But many local outlets are citing or airing experts in order to inform audiences about what they can actually expect once the conflict has resolved and the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, with at least one outlet specifically debunking Trump's claims. CBS Minnesota affiliate WCCO noted that a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, an independent agency within the Department of Energy, contradicts Trump's claims, saying: “It could take time for gas prices to go down, even if ships are granted safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.â€
