President Donald Trump demanded gas stations slash prices ‘immediately’ on Monday and urged retailers to start targeting gasoline at around $2.50 a gallon, warning there would be ‘big problems’ if they failed to act.
In a fiery Truth Social post, the president insisted fuel prices no longer reflected falling crude oil costs and accused retailers of overcharging motorists despite oil dropping to around $68 a barrel.
‘Gasoline Retailers must get their Prices down, IMMEDIATELY!’ Trump wrote.
‘They’re too high considering that Oil is now at $68 a Barrel, and heading south. The Retailers must quickly react to this statement, and do what they know is right — DROP YOUR PRICE FOR OUR GREAT AMERICAN PEOPLE!’
Trump then warned retailers not to profit from falling oil prices at the expense of consumers.
‘There will be no gauging [sic], which is totally illegal. If Retailers don’t do this, big problems lie ahead!’ he wrote.
The president made a direct plea for retailers to ‘Start targeting around the $2.50 a Gallon number,’ before turning his attention to California’s fuel taxes.
‘And California should stop charging such heavy Taxes on their Gasoline. Soon the Tax will be higher than the Product itself, and the United States will not stand for it, nor will the People of California, who are being abused by these ridiculous Taxes, and by their own Government,’ Trump wrote.
President Donald Trump has demanded gas stations cut prices to $2.50 a gallon ‘immediately’
Trump made the demand for retailers to lower prices ‘immediately’ in a fiery Monday night post
Gas prices have been well above $5.00/gallon in many parts of the country including California
The swipe marked Trump’s latest attack on fuel prices as he increases pressure on the energy industry to pass on lower crude oil costs to drivers filling up at the pump.
Just last week, Trump revealed he had instructed the Department of Justice to investigate whether major oil companies were keeping gasoline prices artificially high despite a decline in crude prices.
At the time, the president accused the industry of ‘gouging’ motorists by failing to reduce prices quickly enough after oil markets eased.
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