Here's something you don't see every day: JB Pritzker and Donald Trump on the same side of an issue. The issue, oddly enough, is dye. Red dye, specifically, and the diesel it colors.

Gov. Jay Robert 'JB' Pritzker (D-IL) on Tuesday signed an executive order directing state agencies to provide penalty relief for qualifying agricultural use of red-dyed diesel on highways and state roads through the end of 2026. That followed President Donald Trump's federal order the previous day.

JB Pritzker Slams Trump Over Iran War

Pritzker wasn't exactly sending Trump a thank-you note, though. "Diesel costs are up 68% since Trump's war of choice in Iran began," Pritzker said in a post on the social media platform X, criticizing Trump over escalating tensions with Iran.

"I've signed an Executive Order to lower fuel prices for farmers during the fall harvest by allowing them to use dyed diesel in ag vehicles beyond the farm," he added, saying the administration wanted farmers to "compete and make a living."

The timing matters here. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) data, the national average price of diesel on Thursday was $6.2847/gallon. In California, diesel was priced at $8.3483/gallon on Thursday. Those are the kinds of numbers that make politicians do things.

GasBuddy's Patrick De Haan Weighs In

GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan chimed in on Pritzker's decision, saying the order "won't do a whole lot given limited availability of dyed diesel." He also pointed to complex rules on the use of red-dyed diesel across state lines, as "anyone crossing state boundaries" could face complications, but it was "worth mentioning," De Haan said.

Trump, following the order, said the move would result in savings up to $100 per fill-up for consumers who opt to use the fuel.

So what is this stuff? Red-dyed diesel is generally the same fuel as highway diesel, but it's dyed to identify it as fuel intended for tax-exempt off-road use. The Trump order provides temporary federal penalty and tax-payment relief, while states must separately determine how to handle their own taxes and enforcement. That's the wrinkle: Washington can wave a wand, but the states still run their own toll booths.

Notably, Trump's decision to release red-dyed diesel was backed by Vice President JD Vance, who hailed the former's quick decision to deter high prices amid uncertainty over oil movement due to the Iran war, as well as the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump had earlier also mulled imposing a ban on diesel exports, before dismissing talks of such a move.

So two leaders who rarely agree on the weather have now both decided that the answer to expensive diesel is, essentially, letting people burn the untaxed version. Whether that actually shows up as relief at the pump is another question, and De Haan's answer is basically: don't count on it.