Fact Check: Did Trump encourage Americans to use bicycles to save gas in a social media post?
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid rising gas prices following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a rumor began circulating on social media claiming that President Donald Trump had urged Americans to use bicycles to save gas in a social media post.
The claim sparked criticism and questions about the alleged post, prompting a fact check.
Claim: Trump urged Americans to use bicycles to save gas
The claim surfaced in the form of a screenshot that purported to show a post by Trump on his official Truth Social account.
The alleged post read, “AMERICANS - GET ON YOUR BIKES!!! We have to SAVE GAS while we WAIT OUT IRAN because SOMEHOW we used a tremendous number of missiles – PETE!!! Nobody told me you could RUN OUT OF MISSILES!!! Very unfair."
"So bicycle to work, bicycle to the store, bicycle wherever you people go. The Beast needs gasoline. Air Force One needs gasoline. Golf carts need gasoline. THIS IS HOW WE WIN WARS!!! PEDAL FOR FREEDOM!!!”
The screenshot has spread on X and Facebook, garnering hundreds of thousands of views as of this writing, with many appearing to believe it was authentic, while others remained skeptical.
Fact Check: False, Trump made no such post
The screenshot, however, is fake, as Trump made no such post on any of his social media accounts.
According to the screenshot, the post was dated August 7. However, a search of Trump's Truth Social account for the text shown in the screenshot returned no results from that date.
Additionally, Trump's profile picture in the screenshot differs from the one on his actual Truth Social account.
Further Google searches for the claim yielded no credible reports of the president urging Americans to use bicycles to save gas or criticizing War Secretary Pete Hegseth over a missile shortage.
Trump slams Chevron CEO amid gas price concerns
Gas prices have remained a major issue in the US since the start of the conflict in the Middle East, drawing criticism of the president over his handling of the war and its economic fallout as rising oil prices continue to drive up the cost of living.
In a recent Truth Social post, Trump criticized Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth, stating, “Mike Wirth, Chairman and CEO of Chevron, just gave... all of the reasons that his company is doing so well."
"The only thing he conveniently forgot to mention is that, without the genius, foresight, strength, and stability of the Trump Administration, the Oil Industry, and our Country itself, would be dead."
