The national average price of gasoline surged to $3.262 per gallon on Thursday, the highest level recorded during President Donald Trump’s time in office, according to data from GasBuddy. The increase comes less than a week after the United States and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran.
President Trump acknowledged the potential for rising oil and gas prices due to the conflict, but expressed confidence they would fall once the operation concludes. “We have a little high oil prices for a little whereas, but as soon as this ends, those prices are going to drop I believe lower than ever before,” he said in the Oval Office on March 3, as reported by USA Today.
The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has jumped nearly 27 cents to $3.25 in less than a week, according to AAA. This price level mirrors that of early April 2025, and is slightly higher than the $3.107 average from the same period last year.
Susie Wiles, President Trump’s chief of staff, is reportedly urging his advisors to present strategies for lowering gasoline prices in light of the situation in Iran, according to POLITICO. The U.S. Military campaign, aimed at ending Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, is currently projected to last several weeks.
Crude oil prices have too risen sharply. West Texas Intermediate crude oil reached $79.62 per barrel on March 5, a 6.64% increase. WTI Crude had been trading at $67 per barrel just before the start of the conflict on February 27, climbing to over $84 per barrel within a week.
The price surge is being compounded by the seasonal shift to more expensive summer-grade gasoline, according to Patrick de Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. As of late Thursday, 33 U.S. States had average gas prices exceeding $3 per gallon, with that number expected to rise to 40 in the coming days.
The price of diesel fuel has increased even more significantly, reaching a national average of $4.124 per gallon – the highest level since December 2023. The diesel market is facing tighter supplies and increased pressure due to the conflict in the Middle East, as well as disruptions such as drone attacks on a Saudi refinery and reduced natural gas production in Qatar.
In an exclusive interview with Reuters on March 5, President Trump stated he had “no concern” about rising gas prices, asserting that the military operation was “far more important than having gasoline prices travel up a little bit.”
