Trump Pushes Diesel Export Ban, Ignoring Working-Class Pain as Prices Soar
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President Donald Trump has voiced support for a diesel export ban, a move critics say would do little to address the root causes of rising fuel costs and could further burden working families. Industry groups warn the measure could actually increase gasoline prices, while Trump continues to prioritize nationalist rhetoric over real solutions.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump declared his support for a ban on diesel exports, insisting that the United States should hoard its domestic supply as fuel prices skyrocket. Speaking ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump said, "I’ve said let’s not send out the diesel. We make a lot of diesel… I’ve called for it within my people." This nationalist approach does nothing to address the systemic issues driving up energy costs, such as corporate profiteering and global instability.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that officials are reviewing whether a full or partial ban would be feasible, given the limitations of refining capacity. The conversation comes as diesel prices have hit a record average of $6.53 per gallon in the United States—over 75% higher than a year ago—thanks in part to ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, which are exacerbated by reckless foreign policy decisions.
Republican Senate candidates, eager to score political points in the midterms, have joined the chorus, with Representative Ashley Hinson of Iowa blaming the cost of war in Iran for pain at the pump, rather than holding oil companies accountable for price gouging.
The American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers trade group, representing industry interests, warned that an export ban could backfire, reducing both diesel and gasoline production and likely pushing gasoline prices even higher for ordinary Americans.
Trump, meanwhile, indicated he and Zelenskyy would discuss Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, actions that impact both Russian revenues and global diesel prices. He claimed a solution to the war in Ukraine is forthcoming, but offered no details, continuing to use international conflict as a political tool.
"We’re examining whether it’s feasible in terms of the overall refining capacity and whether a full or partial ban would work," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
"It is a serious hit on the Russians. It’s also a serious hit on the price of diesel," Trump said.
Reuters contributed reporting.