So here's a fun way to think about gas prices: they're like a tax that everyone pays, but nobody voted for. And according to California Governor Gavin Newsom, Americans have been paying a lot more of that tax lately—to the tune of $10.53 billion extra at the pump.
On Thursday, Newsom took to social media to slam President Donald Trump, suggesting that the billions in additional fuel costs might not exactly be what you'd call a "Trump win." The governor's press office posted that states like Idaho, Utah, Kentucky, and Arizona have seen the steepest increases. "TRUMP WIN?" the post asked, with what we can only assume was a heavy dose of sarcasm.
Now, the press office didn't specify where that $10.53 billion figure came from, but it lines up with what GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan has been saying—that rising fuel costs have resulted in Americans paying over $10 billion extra. According to AAA data, the national average price for a gallon of gas on Thursday was $4.093. In California, it was a whopping $5.864. Ouch.
Newsom isn't the only Democrat pointing fingers. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also criticized Trump, accusing him of trying to "gaslight hard-working Americans" into believing today's gas prices are "not very high." And Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts said Americans have paid over $8.4 billion more at the pump because of the war in Iran.
On the other side of the aisle, Trump's Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, fired back, calling Newsom a "climate alarmist" for his opposition to the Sable Offshore Corp (SOC) pipeline off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. The pipeline, which could supply over 60,000 barrels of oil a day, has been a point of contention since a 2015 oil spill led to its closure. Environmental groups and some officials have raised concerns about reviving it.
So there you have it: billions in extra gas costs, political finger-pointing, and a pipeline debate all wrapped up in one. Whether you call it a "Trump win" or just another day at the pump probably depends on which side of the political aisle you're filling up on.
