Gas Hits $4.25 a Gallon, Up 40% From a Year Ago
Texas voters at Trump rallies acknowledge the cost surge but cite the threat of socialism as the primary reason for their continued support.
By Ivan Mori ·
The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline reached approximately $4.25 on Wednesday. This figure represents an increase of nearly 40% from the cost of roughly $3.05 per gallon recorded one year prior, according to data from the American Automobile Association.
President Donald Trump addressed the rising costs during campaign rallies held in Lubbock and Corpus Christi. He attributed the temporary spike to increased American oil production and a recent energy agreement with Venezuela. Trump stated that the country is making a fortune while consumers pay more, but he predicted that pump prices would fall rapidly.
During his stop in Corpus Christi, the President announced that the first million barrels of Venezuelan oil had arrived. The White House described the agreement as providing this oil at no cost to American taxpayers. The crude is scheduled for refining in Texas. The administration stated that the broader deal would grant the United States majority control over approximately 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan reserves.
Supporters in these oil-rich cities acknowledged the economic pressure but maintained their loyalty to the President. Stephen Elsher of Corpus Christi identified the economy as his top concern for the midterm elections. He expressed confidence that only Republicans could reverse the current economic trends. Elsher said he wanted to see the economy improve over the next year and believed that direction would not occur without Republican leadership.
The President used the Lubbock rally to contrast his agenda with the Democratic platform. He warned voters against a radical left agenda, arguing that Democratic policies would raise taxes and threaten local oil and gas jobs. Trump described the choice in the election as simple, positioning his administration's economic strategy against the potential consequences of Democratic control.
Several attendees cited ideological threats over immediate price hikes. Susie, a supporter from Corpus Christi, warned that the nation is under siege by Democrats, socialists, and communists. She emphasized the need to preserve the republic. Elizabeth Trigo attended the Lubbock rally with her daughters and stated that the midterms are fundamentally about securing future opportunities. Trigo said she viewed Trump as the candidate on the side of opportunity.
Trigo also expressed a desire for the President to continue fighting the drug war and pushing back against socialism during his remaining two years in office. The White House continued to tout the Venezuelan agreement as a major step toward expanding the domestic energy supply and supporting jobs. The administration argued that the additional oil supply would eventually lower consumer costs.
