Fact Check: Did Saudi Arabia stall crude oil supply to the West prompting backlash from Trump?

WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor is circulating on social media platforms claiming to show an exchange between Saudi Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and President Donald Trump, in which Saudi Arabia announced cutting down daily crude production by 80% and locking down oil supply to the West. The claim has sparked concerns and speculation, prompting a fact-check.

Claim: Donald Trump angered at Saudi Arabia for stalling oil supply

According to the viral post, Saudi Arabia announced the cutoff, stating, “Effective today, Saudi Arabia and OPEC+ are cutting daily crude production by 80%, locking down all oil shipments to the West." 

The alleged development has evoked Trump’s anger, who allegedly said, “This is total economic sabotage! You are driving global inflation into a death spiral." 

Saudi hit back, stating, “You printed trillion-dollar paper currencies and forced us to exchange real natural wealth for your worthless ink. Why should we pump our gold to keep your luxury running?" 

The argument then intensified with Trump threatening, “We will crush your financial network and freeze every dollar account you hold," to which Saudi replied, “Freeze our dollars all you want. You still can't run a fighter jet on paper money."  

The post has garnered hundreds of thousands of views, with many expressing concern over oil shortage and gas price hike, while a few others called for a fact check of the claim.

Fact Check: No such development has taken place

However, the claim is false, as no such exchange has taken place between the Saudi leader and Trump.

There are no publicly available statements, transcripts, or social media posts from either of the leaders that suggest that the Middle Eastern country is cutting off daily crude production by 80% and locking down oil supply to the West.

If such a development and exchange had really taken place, it would not only go unreported by prominent news outlets, but would have even made headlines, triggering worldwide concerns and debates.

Additionally, the claim was posted by a commentary X account called Mojataba Khamenei Commentary, which is not credible.

Americans blame Donald Trump for gas prices

The claim surfaced as voters are blaming rising gas prices on the Trump administration, while regular gas has averaged $4.35 a gallon nationwide as of this month, according to the Energy Information Administration data. 

According to a late September poll by AP-NORC, 65% of Americans say Trump’s policies are behind the stubbornly high prices, rather than outside events.