Fact Check: Did Trump call posting gas prices ‘economic treason’ and threaten investigations?

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid criticism of the Trump administration over rising gas prices, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that President Donald Trump had announced it was illegal to photograph or post about gas prices, sparking speculation. Let us analyse and fact-check the claim.

Claim: Trump says sharing gas prices is 'economic treason'

The claim surfaced in the form of a screenshot showing an X post by Trump, which states, “I am hereby making it ILLEGAL to photograph or post gas prices."

"These pictures help Iran, hurt America, and create PANIC by very weak people! If you see high prices, DO NOT POST THEM, report them for investigation."

"Gas price photography is ECONOMIC TREASON. MAKE AMERICA ENERGY DOMINANT AGAIN!” The claim spread on Facebook, X, and Threads, garnering millions of views, with many believing it to be true while others called it fabricated.

Fact Check: Trump made no such post

The screenshot, however, is fake, as the president made no such post. A search of his official X account for the post yielded no results. There is also no trace of such a post on his official Truth Social account.

There is also no evidence that the president made any remark about criminalising posts or photographs of gas prices, as a Google search for the claim showed no reports from prominent news outlets.

Rather, Karl E Rominger, a Facebook user who made the claim, called the post satire in a comment and said it was not real.

Trump calls rising gas prices ‘temporary’

The president appeared less concerned about gas prices than the fake post suggested. Trump downplayed concerns over rising gasoline prices, describing the increase as “very temporary.”

He insisted people would ultimately understand the need for economic sacrifices tied to escalating tensions with Iran.

Speaking to reporters, Trump defended his administration’s approach in the Middle East and argued that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon outweighed short-term concerns about fuel costs and household finances.

“Everything’s going good,” Trump said. “I’m sorry, but we have to go down and take a little journey down to, we have to do something with Iran.