Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) took to X on Wednesday to outline a series of price hikes across multiple goods and services under the Trump administration since May 2025. The post, from Newsom's official Press Office handle, highlighted data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing inflation hitting everything from gas to groceries.
"Trump's price increases over the last year," the post said, listing gasoline up 41%, airline fares up 27%, energy up 24%, and tobacco up 8%. Food costs also rose, with fruits and vegetables up 6%, car repair costs up 6%, and clothing up 5%. The data came from the BLS's latest inflation report released Wednesday.
The post didn't just cite numbers—it framed them as a direct consequence of Trump's policies, especially as the administration navigates an ongoing conflict with Iran. That conflict has drawn attention from both sides of the aisle, with some Republicans also questioning the economic fallout.
Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene raised eyebrows by questioning Trump's claims about moving oil out of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war. She asked why ordinary Americans were still grappling with high gas costs if Trump had successfully moved 100 million barrels of oil out of the strait. It's a rare moment of bipartisan skepticism on fuel prices.
Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced that the state would freeze an automatic hike in the state gas tax until January 2027. Pritzker touted the move as "relief" from Trump for Americans struggling with high fuel costs—a clear political jab at the administration.
The Iran situation continues to escalate. Trump warned of further strikes on Iran if a deal isn't reached, while Iran's military command announced the Strait of Hormuz would be closed to oil tankers and commercial vessels. That's a big deal: the strait is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments.
"Rich Dad Poor Dad" author Robert Kiyosaki weighed in, saying Iran's move to accept Chinese Yuan for oil payments could spell the end of the U.S. dollar. It's a dramatic claim, but it underscores how geopolitical tensions are intertwining with inflation and energy markets.
For now, Americans are feeling the pinch at the pump and beyond, and politicians are scrambling to assign blame or offer relief. The numbers from the BLS tell a clear story: prices are up, and the debate over why is only getting louder.
