BREAKING: Gas Prices Surpass $4.50 Per Gallon, Up 30 Cents in One Week Arrow

Americans have shelled out nearly $18 billion for gas since Trump's war started

According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline surpassed $4.50, up 30 cents in just one week and a 50% increase since Donald Trump started his unpopular war of choice with Iran over two months ago. Diesel prices currently stand at a whopping $5.67 per gallon. Nearly 80% of Americans feel that high gas prices have strained their budgets.

As Trump doubles down on his threats to continue bombing Iran, experts have warned that gas prices are likely to stay above $4.50 per gallon if the Strait of Hormuz does not fully open. Trump's own Secretary of Energy Chris Wright recently admitted gas prices might not return to pre-war levels until 2027. U.S. gasoline stockpiles are at their lowest level for this time of year since 2014, with economists predicting the potential for historic seasonal lows.

In response, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement:

"Over two months into Donald Trump's deadly and costly war with Iran, Americans are still seeing prices climb by the day as their budgets get stretched even thinner. Instead of lowering costs like he promised, at every turn, Trump has recklessly put his own interests first at the expense of everyday Americans. While working families struggle to afford higher prices under Trump, his priorities are clear: waging his war of choice, building his ballroom, and giving tax kickbacks to the wealthy and well-connected."

Trump and his administration officials have repeatedly dismissed Americans' concerns about high prices. Just yesterday, Trump said rising gas prices are "a very small price to pay" and falsely claimed earlier this week that prices are "going down very rapidly." Secretary of State Marco Rubio similarly downplayed the pain Americans are feeling at the pump, saying yesterday that the U.S. has been "insulated to some degree" from high gas prices. And this morning, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett admitted that Americans "are spending more on gasoline."

Meanwhile, the war has already cost taxpayers at least $25 billion - without accounting for costs of damage repairs, which brings estimates closer to $40-50 billion. It's no wonder Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump's handling of the war: A new poll today found that more than 60% of Americans - including more than 1-in-5 Republicans disapprove of Trump's handling of the war - up six points from March.