There's a certain irony in celebrating a holiday weekend at the pump when the price of filling up your tank is making history for all the wrong reasons. That's the scene as Americans headed into Labor Day, with the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline hitting a record $4.14. And Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) isn't letting the moment pass without a pointed jab at President Donald Trump.

Khanna Calls Out Trump Over Record Gas Prices

On Monday, Khanna took to X to highlight the pain at the pump. The $4.14 average heading into the holiday weekend wasn't just high; it blew past the previous Labor Day record of $3.82, which had stood since 2012. His message was blunt: "There has never been a Labor Day where gas has cost Americans more."

He went on to frame it as a political question, asking, "The average price at the pump going into this weekend was $4.14. The last Labor Day weekend record high was $3.82. Is this what winning looks like?"

Khanna didn't stop at the sticker shock. He tied the soaring prices directly to the ongoing conflict with Iran, urging, "End this war so the economy can begin to recover."

The numbers back up the frustration. According to AAA, the national average hit that record $4.14 as crude oil prices hovered in the $90-per-barrel range, with volatility around the Strait of Hormuz keeping markets on edge.

Oil Prices, Gas Costs Draw Criticism

Khanna isn't alone in pointing fingers at the White House. Brett Erickson, Managing Principal at Obsidian Risk Advisors, argued that Trump has lost his grip on oil markets as tensions with Iran push crude toward $100 a barrel. "Diesel is hitting all time highs. Gas is hitting Labor Day highs," he said, painting a grim picture for anyone who drives, ships goods, or relies on the economy humming along.

Even within the administration, there's a sense of trying to manage expectations. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said last week that gasoline prices were "more likely to go down than go up," pointing to futures prices that were more than 30 cents per gallon below current levels. It's a hopeful note, but it doesn't change what drivers are seeing right now.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also weighed in, blaming the Iran war for the pain at the pump. He cited a $4.15-per-gallon national average over the weekend and said the conflict was "wreaking havoc on the economy." His prescription was simple and urgent: "We must end this war NOW."

Gas Prices Could Fall Below $4

But here's a twist: some analysts think the worst might be behind us, at least for a bit. Last month, GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan predicted the national average could slip below $4 per gallon by Labor Day. His reasoning? WTI crude had already fallen below $80 a barrel, and some states were switching to winter gasoline blends earlier than usual, which typically brings prices down.

De Haan acknowledged that while prices might dip below that psychological $4 mark, they "may still be the most expensive ever" for this time of year. So, a small relief, but not exactly a return to cheap gas days.

For now, the political and economic fallout from high energy prices is likely to keep simmering as long as the conflict in the Middle East continues. Whether prices ease or spike further, one thing is clear: every fill-up is a reminder of how intertwined geopolitics and the economy really are.