On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright addressed gas prices amid U.S. military action in Iran, which caused oil to jump 36% in a week, the largest spike since 1983, and triggered record single-day increases. Wright defended the Trump administration’s record on lowering energy costs, noting that gasoline remains $1.50 cheaper than mid-Biden levels, with a goal of returning to below $3 a gallon soon.
He described the current spike as temporary, predicting that in the worst case, it lasts “weeks,” not months, contrasting with prior declines in gas, diesel, and upcoming electricity prices. Tapper questioned the administration’s dismissive stance on consumer struggles
In any case, the interaction began with host Jake Tapper: “Let’s talk about gas prices here at home. The head of GasBuddy’s petroleum analysis told me a few days ago that two of the 10 largest single-day price increases in history happened this week.”
“The price of oil jumped 36 percent, the largest one-week spike since 1983. President Trump told Reuters about gas prices, ‘If they rise, they rise.’ Is that really the message of the Trump administration to consumers, who are already struggling?” the journalist added.
Responding expertly, Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated, “The Trump administration has been all in on lowering energy prices, and I would say quite successfully. We have seen a dramatic decline in gasoline prices and in diesel prices. Soon, you will see it in electricity prices as well.
Building on this point, he noted, “So the Trump administration, in stark contrast to the Biden administration, has had the goal of lowering energy prices; the Biden administration has been quite successful in raising energy prices. Gasoline today is still $1.50 a gallon cheaper than it was in the middle of the Biden administration. But you’re right. We want it back below $3 a gallon. And it will be again before too long.”
Tapper interjected, “What do you mean by too long? How much longer?” Prompting Wright to answer, “Look, you never know exactly the time frame of this, but, in the worst case, this is a week’s thing, this is not a month’s thing.”
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In another statement, Wright added, “Previous administrations have begged, bartered, and bribed the Iranian government, and it hasn’t worked. President Trump’s bold leadership has allowed the United States to finally put an end to Iran’s relentless threat to America and to the world.”
Reassuring the public, he noted, “The plan is to get oil, and natural gas, and fertilizer, and all of the products from the Gulf flowing through the straits… One large tanker has already gone through the straits with no issues at all… energy will flow soon.”
“President Trump was elected to bring common sense back to energy. Even in the midst of conflict, gasoline prices today are one-third lower than they were in the middle of Biden’s term,” Wright stated in another announcement on social media.
Likewise, the official explained, “The Trump administration’s leading objective is to lower energy prices. Four years of Biden drove up the price of everything—electricity, natural gas, heating, diesel, jet fuel. Unleashing American energy, including nuclear, is common sense, and will bring prices down!”