Full Breakdown
Trump’s Energy Rhetoric, Middle-East Conflict, and the U.S. Diesel Price Surge
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Trump’s Shifting Energy Rhetoric
On September 13, 2025, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that NATO members should cease all purchases of Russian oil, calling continued buying “shocking” and threatening “major sanctions” and tariffs of 50-100 % on China. The reversal links Trump’s earlier leverage-over-Putin argument to the current fuel-price environment in the United States.
Middle-East Conflict and Oil Supply Disruptions
In February, Trump launched Operation Epic Fury (February 28) targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. The campaign coincided with Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi infrastructure, the seizure of the Red Sea port of Mokha, and drone strikes on Saudi’s East-West pipeline from Iraq. These actions have constrained Gulf oil output: the International Energy Agency estimates that more than 10 million barrels per day of Gulf production remained shut in August, with Gulf exports at roughly half pre-war levels and diesel- and gasoline-export volumes falling to about 390,000 barrels per day, a quarter of earlier volumes.
U.S. Diesel and Gasoline Prices Spike
Domestic fuel costs have risen sharply. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported an average diesel price of $3.72 per gallon in February, while its latest reading shows $5.97 per gallon. The American Automobile Association (AAA) recorded a national average gasoline price of $6.20 per gallon, the first nominal crossing of the $6 mark. A July Pew survey found that 60 % of Americans believed Trump’s economic policies worsened conditions, up from 52 % in January, and concern over gasoline prices rose from 34 % to 56 %.
Official Statements & Responses
- President Trump’s September 13, 2025 post urged NATO to halt Russian oil purchases and threatened sweeping sanctions.
- In a later Sunday message, Trump warned Zelensky that targeting Russian diesel would have global negative effects.
- President Vladimir Putin declared on September 1 that “The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have been instructed to prepare and carry out mass strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have been instructed to prepare and carry out mass strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities.” — Vladimir Putin — Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.