Donald J.Trump demands gasoline retailers drop prices to $2.50 a gallon
warned of “big problems” for retailers who do not lower fuel costs, citing oil at $68 a barrel and calling California gas taxes abusive.
warned of “big problems” for retailers who do not lower fuel costs, citing oil at $68 a barrel and calling California gas taxes abusive.
WHITE HOUSE — Donald J.Trump demanded gasoline retailers slash prices and target $2.50 a gallon in a Truth Social post on June 29, 2026 at 6:39 PM EST.
Here is the full post (see truthsocial): “Gasoline Retailers must get their Prices down, IMMEDIATELY! 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! There will be no gauging, which is totally illegal. If Retailers don’t do this, big problems lie ahead! Start targeting around the $2.50 a Gallon number, 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. Donald J.Trump”
Trump cited oil trading at $68 a barrel as justification for lower pump prices. He set a target of roughly $2.50 a gallon and warned retailers that failure to comply would bring “big problems.” The post also accused unnamed retailers of “gauging,” an apparent reference to price gouging, which he called “totally illegal.”
The president singled out California for what he described as excessive state gasoline taxes. He argued that the tax burden on California fuel would soon exceed the cost of the product itself. Trump said the people of California are “being abused by these ridiculous Taxes, and by their own Government.”
The post did not specify what enforcement actions the administration might pursue against retailers or the state of California. Federal price-gouging authority over retail gasoline remains limited, and state fuel taxes fall under the jurisdiction of individual state legislatures.
In the last 30 days, 18 of 564 Trump posts addressed the topic of the economy, according to a Zenger analysis of his Truth Social activity (see truthsocial).
Source: Zenger real-time database of all Truth Social posts.
Note: Chart generated on June 29, 2026 at 6:45 PM EST
Source: Zenger analysis
Note: Table generated by NewsFindr on June 29, 2026 at 6:45 PM EST