California Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is once again taking aim at energy giant Chevron (CVX), urging residents to skip the brand-name gas stations and save money. In a social media post on Saturday, Newsom's press office blamed President Trump's Iran war for keeping prices at the pump higher than they should be.

"Gas prices are still elevated nationwide because of Trump's reckless Iran war," the press office said on X. The post encouraged consumers to avoid "brand names like Chevron" when filling up their tanks, arguing that "unbranded gas = lower cost and same quality in California." The message was clear: "Keep the extra cash for your holiday, not Big Oil's pocket."

Chevron did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The feud between Newsom and Chevron is nothing new. In May, Chevron posted signs criticizing Sacramento lawmakers for "choosing foreign oil and fuels over local jobs and lower costs." Newsom responded by urging residents to boycott name brands. The governor has long championed clean energy, touting California's sale of 2.5 million electric vehicles since he took office in 2019.

Gas Prices: Down from Peaks, but Still High

Despite the political back-and-forth, there's some good news at the pump. GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan noted that on the Fourth of July, the national average was $3.755 per gallon — 81 cents lower than the May peak and 65 cents lower than a year ago. Forty-one states had prices below $4 per gallon.

But not everyone is feeling the relief. According to AAA, the national average on Sunday was $3.804 per gallon. States like Hawaii, California, and Washington are still paying over $5 per gallon, with Hawaii leading the pack at $5.458 per gallon. For context, in July 2025, the average was around $3.10 per gallon.

Oil prices have also softened. West Texas Intermediate crude was trading at $68.43 per barrel, while Brent crude was at $71.71 per barrel. The United States Oil Fund (USO) rose 0.69% to $103.98 on July 2.

The Iran War: A Lingering Shadow

The backdrop to all this is the ongoing Iran war, which continues to roil global energy markets. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for oil shipments — is under Tehran's command. His comments came after a U.S. Central Command security summit in Bahrain with Gulf states.

Meanwhile, Iran is preparing for the state funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in February during a U.S.-Israeli joint operation that sparked the conflict. The funeral is expected to last 10-12 hours.

On the other side, Israel conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh despite a framework to end hostilities. Lebanese officials say the strikes violate the ceasefire, while Israel insists they fit the agreement.

President Donald Trump reportedly said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a meeting at the White House. "We get along very good. [Netanyahu] knows who the boss is," Trump said.

For now, Californians are left to navigate the pump — and the politics — as best they can.