According to a report by Reuters on October 5th, as gasoline prices continue to rise in the United States, U.S. President Donald Trump posted a message on his social media platform 'Truth Social' that targeted Ukraine and the Democratic Party in the U.S.
Trump said that the main factor driving up gasoline prices is no longer the Strait of Hormuz, as a large amount of crude oil is transported out of the region almost every day. The real problem lies with “the refineries”.
Russia's refineries are being destroyed by Ukrainian bombing, and our own refineries have been shut down in the "Blue State" like California. Trump then attacked Democrats using a derogatory term "Dumocrats" derived from "stupid" and "Democrats".
Trump's statement comes at a time when energy prices in the United States have risen significantly.
According to Reuters, after the outbreak of the war in Iran, the passage through the Hormuz Strait was severely affected, leading to a significant increase in international energy prices. The Hormuz Strait is one of the most important oil transportation routes in the world, with about one-fifth of the world's oil supply being transported through this route under normal circumstances. At the same time, ongoing attacks by Ukraine on Russian refineries and other energy infrastructure have further disrupted the international refined oil market, especially putting pressure on diesel supplies.
However, Trump believes that the current rise in gasoline prices in the Gulf of Hormuz is not due to increases in U.S. gasoline production, but rather to problems with refining capacity. On one hand, he accused Ukraine of attacking Russian refineries. On the other hand, he blamed the decline in U.S. domestic refining capacity on Democratic-controlled states.
The issue of oil prices in the United States is also rapidly becoming a political topic. As the mid-term elections in November approach, energy prices and living costs continue to attract attention from American voters. According to Reuters, Trump is currently under political pressure due to the rising energy prices caused by the war in Iran.
It is worth noting that Trump's claim that crude oil transportation through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly resumed is also questioned. Energy analysts believe that the transportation of Middle Eastern crude oil and refined products is still far from being fully restored. The current rise in oil prices is actually the result of multiple factors, including disruptions to Middle Eastern supplies, attacks on Russian energy facilities by Ukraine, and the withdrawal of some US refining capacity.
