Fact Check: Is 'Trump Fuel' station selling gas for nearly $20 per gallon?
BRANSON, MISSOURI: A Trump-branded gas station in Branson, Missouri, reportedly sold gasoline for nearly $20 a gallon. The claim spread online amid a prolonged period of high global fuel prices linked to the US war with Iran and appeared to reference the Freedom Fuel stations promoted by the Trump administration.
Claim: Trump Fuel station selling gas for nearly $20 a gallon
The rumor originated from a Facebook post by “The Last Show with Stephen Colbert,” which was titled “Trump Fuel Station Turns Heads with Eye-Popping Prices.”
The post claimed that a new gas station covered in Trump-themed signs and patriotic decorations had opened in Branson and was already attracting attention.
According to the post, the station, called Trump Fuel, featured large displays of Trump, American flags, “America First” messages, and “Trump 2028” signs. It claimed that the political theme appeared throughout the property, including the roadside sign, fuel pumps, canopy, and convenience store.
The post also claimed that gas prices drew as much attention as the decorations. It said regular gasoline was priced at $18.99 per gallon, plus at $19.49, and premium at $19.99. It also claimed that diesel was the most expensive option at $21.49 per gallon.
The post said several vehicles were seen at the pumps during the grand opening as drivers stopped to check out the new station. It added that unusually high fuel prices and extensive political branding made the location impossible for passing motorists to miss.
The post concluded by claiming, "Trump Fuel is now open to customers in Branson, with the convenience store and fuel pumps operating following this week’s grand-opening celebration."
Fact Check: The claim is false
The claim is false. The viral Facebook post describes a supposed Trump Fuel station in Branson, Missouri, selling gasoline for nearly $20 per gallon, but there is no credible evidence that such a station exists or that it opened there.
Searches across major search engines also did not find reports from reputable local news organizations confirming the claim.
The source of the rumor also raises concerns about its reliability. The Facebook page that published the post describes itself as a satirical news organization and says in its bio, “We are a world-renowned satirical news organization & have received many awards for our breaking news stories!” This indicates that the post was presented as satire rather than as a genuine news report.
The claim may have appeared believable because the Trump administration has promoted the Freedom Fuel Network, a real chain of gas stations that received attention for selling gasoline at $3.47 per gallon when it launched.
However, the real Freedom Fuel stations were not reported to be charging anything close to $20 per gallon. The viral post appears to have used the real Freedom Fuel story as the basis for a fictional claim about a “Trump Fuel” station in Branson.
