(Gage Skidmore)
Days after ordering airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump appeared to acknowledge a potential consequence rising fuel prices in the U.S. and issued a sharp warning to the energy industry.
Writing on Truth Social Monday in his signature all-caps style, Trump demanded, “EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN. I’M WATCHING! YOU’RE PLAYING RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. DON’T DO IT!”
The post suggests Trump is attempting to preemptively pressure oil companies from raising prices amid heightened Middle East tensions following his military strike.
This isn’t the first time he has directly commanded corporations; in 2019, when his trade tariffs led to potential price hikes at Walmart, he told the retail giant to “eat” the extra costs rather than pass them on to consumers.
Trump followed up with another post targeting the Department of Energy, declaring, “To The Department of Energy: DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!! And I mean NOW!!!”
However, the DOE does not control domestic oil production private companies do. According to Investopedia, ramping up production from new wells typically takes six to eight months, meaning any immediate surge in supply is unlikely.
Complicating matters, Trump’s own trade policies including tariffs on imported steel and machinery have increased costs for oil producers, making rapid expansion more difficult.
His latest posts reflect an effort to deflect blame for potential economic fallout from his foreign policy decisions, particularly as gas prices remain a sensitive issue for American voters.
The strikes on Iran have already stirred geopolitical uncertainty, which often leads to oil market volatility. Trump’s aggressive rhetoric appears aimed at both reassuring consumers and shifting responsibility onto energy companies a tactic he has employed before when economic risks clash with his political messaging. Whether the industry heeds his warning remains to be seen.
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