American Bridge 21st Century released the latest installment of its Reports From The American Front Line (RFTAFL) video series today, as the devastating impact of soaring gas prices continues to take its toll on working Americans, and the White House displays a stunning disconnect with people’s pain at the pump.
Despite the data, Donald Trump insists that prices are “not very high.” Tell that to the workers bearing the real costs:
- The national average hit $4.16 per gallon earlier this month, the highest since August 2022. In some states, drivers are paying close to $6.00 per gallon.
- The average price of gas is nearly 30% higher than what Americans were paying a year ago.
- Diesel, which moves food, freight, and farm equipment, now averages $5.53 per gallon nationally.
The pain is spreading well beyond the pump:
- FedEx is charging a 26.5% fuel surcharge on ground and home deliveries.
- The U.S. Postal Service has added fees to packages.
- Airlines have announced fuel surcharges.
- Economists warn that elevated energy costs will take months to flow through prices on food, medicine, and household goods.
The cause is no mystery. Trump’s war in Iran has dramatically escalated Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, and sent oil prices surging past $100 per barrel earlier this month, and analysts warn prices will not meaningfully recover until shipping through the strait fully resumes. This is all compounding the burden of Trump’s tariffs, which experts say are largely borne by American consumers and businesses.
“Donald Trump made one promise above all others: that he would lower the cost of living for American families, but he has broken that promise time and time again. His war in Iran created a global energy crisis, and his own cabinet cannot say when relief is coming,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Brandon Weathersby. “Meanwhile, Trump remains dismissive about the disruption to people’s lives and pocketbooks. But the nurse rationing her drives around town or the farmer watching diesel costs eat into potential profits can’t ignore the disruption. Trump did this, and he owns every extra dollar leaving families’ wallets right now.”
The RFTAFL video series will continue releasing updates on the American Bridge 21st Century YouTube page. Subscribe and share widely to ensure the voices of Americans bearing the cost of this crisis cannot be ignored.
RFTAFL is part of American Bridge’s broader Republican Impacts Project, which uses extensive research to highlight the local effects of Republican policies and hold policymakers accountable for decisions that harm American families.
Published: Apr 20, 2026 | Last Modified: May 5, 2026