So here's a thing that happens in politics: when prices go up, someone's going to get blamed. And right now, with gas prices climbing and grocery bills getting heavier, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has decided exactly who that someone is.
In a social media post over the weekend, Pritzker didn't mince words. "Gas prices are up. Measles is back. Farms are folding," he wrote, before taking direct aim at tariffs from the Trump administration that he says are "raising grocery costs." His final question, typed in all caps for emphasis, was simple: "WHERE IS DONALD TRUMP?"
It's a political jab, sure, but it's landing as consumers are actually feeling the pinch. According to the American Automobile Association, the national average for regular gasoline has hit $4.110 a gallon. If you're in California, you're looking at nearly $6—$5.923, to be precise. That's more than a month into the latest chapter of U.S.-Iran tensions, and it's not just your commute that's getting more expensive.
Here's where it gets interesting. The Strait of Hormuz isn't just a superhighway for oil tankers; it's also a crucial artery for the global fertilizer supply chain. Why? Because natural gas is a key ingredient in fertilizers like urea and ammonia. When shipping gets disrupted there, it doesn't just affect fuel—it eventually hits the farm, and then your dinner plate.
Experts are warning that prices for coffee, chocolate, meat, berries, and seafood could keep climbing. If the current disruptions aren't sorted out, we might be looking at higher grocery bills all the way through 2026. That's a long time to pay more for your morning coffee.
Meanwhile, the geopolitical backdrop is getting noisier. Over the Easter weekend, former President Trump posted a fresh ultimatum on Truth Social, telling Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz or face consequences. He outlined that the U.S. would target Iranian energy infrastructure, a move that drew criticism from figures across the political spectrum, including from some within his own party.
The timing was notable. Just days after Trump claimed Iran's military was "beaten and completely decimated," Iranian forces shot down a U.S. F-15E fighter jet. It's the kind of escalation that makes markets—and politicians—nervous.
So when Governor Pritzker asks "Where is Donald Trump?" he's really asking a broader question: who's accountable when global conflicts translate into higher costs at home? For now, the answer seems to be blowing in the wind—and priced at over $4 a gallon.
