U.S. consumers confront the highest gas prices ever on an Election Day

According to Donald Trump’s own version of events, his own team recently encouraged him not to celebrate higher gas prices. The president ignored their advice.

In fact, with just 11 days remaining in the election cycle, the Republican headlined a campaign rally in Georgia, where he spent quite a bit of time bragging that oil and gas companies were “making a fortune” as a result of higher prices, so consumers struggling to pay their bills should be glad they’re paying more at the pump.

As for the members of his team who encouraged him not to make such comments, the president added, “I said, ‘I don’t give a damn. I’m going to say it. We’re making a freaking fortune.’”

To a degree, that was true: American consumers are struggling, but Big Oil is not. Last week, The New York Times reported that the U.S. war with Iran “has been very lucrative for American oil companies, which have earned more than $130 billion in profit as people pay much higher prices for gasoline, diesel and other fuel.”

Three days after that information reached the public, The Washington Post reported:

Gas prices are set to be the highest for any Election Day in U.S. history Tuesday, as the issue weighs heavily on voters’ minds.

The average gas price as of Monday is $4.17, according to data from AAA. That is roughly 37 cents higher than prices heading into the 2022 midterm election, which held the previous record for an Election Day.

This also applies to diesel, which now costs $6.28 per gallon, which is also the highest average ever on a U.S. Election Day.

I suppose it’s possible that Americans paying these prices are delighted that energy companies are making “a freaking fortune,” but it seems unlikely.

Indeed, we don’t necessarily have to speculate. The Post’s report noted a recent national poll from The New York Times and Siena University that found 75% of likely voters disapprove of the way the president has handled gas prices.

My best guess is that the other 25% either didn’t understand the question or work for Exxon Mobil.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

The post U.S. consumers confront the highest gas prices ever on an Election Day appeared first on MS NOW.