Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has a question for President Donald Trump: if we can embargo computer chips to China, why can't we embargo diesel to help American farmers and truckers?

Over the weekend, Grassley called on Trump to consider an embargo on diesel exports, arguing that keeping more fuel at home could take some pressure off domestic prices. It's a simple supply-and-demand argument, delivered with the bluntness of a senator from a farm state watching his constituents get squeezed.

Grassley Calls For Diesel Export Embargo

On Saturday, in a post on X, the Iowa senator wrote, "Why doesn't Pres Trump put an embargo on diesel exports like presidents in the 70s put embargoes on ag [agriculture] products bc [because] food prices were inflated."

Then he got to the point: "High diesel prices ARE KILLING FARMERS INCOME," he added.

The numbers back up the frustration. According to AAA data, the national average price of regular gasoline was $4.4761 per gallon on Sunday, while diesel averaged $6.5050 per gallon. That's a painful gap for anyone whose livelihood runs on a diesel engine, which is to say most of rural America.

Grassley renewed his call Sunday, writing, "If our govt can embargo chips to China it can embargo diesel to help American farmers & truckers."

He added that the U.S. needs "our family farmers who feed&fuel the world 2b [to be] on the strongest footing possible no matter what's happening across the globe," concluding with "COMMON SENSE AMERICA FIRST."

The White House did not immediately respond to MarketDash's request for comments.

Democrats Criticize Trump Over Rising Fuel Costs

Grassley isn't the only one unhappy about fuel prices, though his proposed solution is a bit unusual for a Republican senator. Last week, former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said diesel in Central Florida was approaching $7 per gallon and regular gasoline was $4.79, warning that higher prices would "crush our economy."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) cited gas prices of $4.44 per gallon, diesel at $6.40 and heating oil at $5.50, saying Americans, truckers and families could not afford the higher costs and calling for an end to the war.

Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill.) criticized Trump over rising borrowing and fuel costs, saying the Iran war had cost Americans an additional $107 billion in gas and diesel expenses.

Hassett Warned About High Fuel Prices

Last month, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett expressed concern about high fuel prices and inflation amid the Iran war, saying fuel prices were "higher than we would like."

He said steps had been taken to lower prices once the Gulf situation was resolved and also pointed to high grocery costs and productivity growth in the U.S. economy.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by MarketDash editors.