Trump shoots down energy secretary's prediction that gas prices will stay high

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Apr 20, 2026

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President Donald Trump on Monday shot down his own energy secretary’s prediction of stubbornly high gas prices through the end of the year.

Even thought the Iran war has sent prices at the pump way up, Trump said Energy Secretary Chris Wright was incorrect to say gas prices would not go back to $3 a gallon until 2027 at the earliest.

“No, I think he’s wrong on that,” Trump told The Hill. “Totally wrong.”

Trump asserted that gas prices would plunge “as soon as this ends,” referring to the Iran war.

Wright drew disagreement from his boss by suggesting gas prices would not return to prewar levels anytime soon or before voters go to the polls in the midterm congressional elections.

“That might not happen until next year,” Wright told CNN on Sunday.

Without elaborating, Wright claimed that U.S. gas “prices have likely peaked and they will start going down.”

Average gas prices at the pump were around $2.97 nationwide before Trump ordered military attacks on Iran and Tehran responded by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of the world’s oil supply.

Prices soared to about $4.16 last week before easing somewhat to around $4 after a ceasefire has come into effect.

Anything close to $4 gas is considered political poison for Trump and his Republican allies as they cling to control of Congress in November.

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