Trump says $4 gas is ‘OK’ as JD Vance calls keeping fuel cheap the top goal

LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: President Donald Trump on Friday, August 14, defended gasoline prices that have climbed above $4 a gallon, saying Americans should accept higher costs as part of the effort to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Speaking at the Nassau County Police Academy in New York, Trump said he would not apologize for the increase and argued that the administration did “the right thing.” His comments came one day after Vice President JD Vance said keeping oil and gas prices affordable was the administration’s “goal number one.”

Trump defends higher gas prices amid Iran conflict

Trump addressed ffuel prices while speaking about the ongoing US conflict with Iran, where disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to higher oil and gasoline prices.

“So, for you to pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline, just remember, you're doing it so that a very evil country cannot have... a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

“So remember that, when you have to pay a little bit more, your $4, it's okay. I mean, it's, I'm not, I'm not, I'll never apologize. I did the right thing,” the president added.

The national average price of gasoline was $4.07 a gallon on Friday morning, according to AAA, compared with $3.86 a month earlier and $3.16 a year ago.

Trump also said the administration would maintain pressure on Iran through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil transit route that has seen shipping disrupted during the conflict.

“After we finish defeating Iran... pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States. Essentially, we have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to,” Trump said.

The disruption has affected oil supplies because roughly one-fifth of the world's oil shipments typically pass through the waterway.

JD Vance calls cheap fuel a top administration goal

However, Trump's remarks differed from those of Vice President JD Vance, who just a day earlier, on Thursday, August 13, emphasized the administration's efforts to bring energy costs down while outlining what he described as its two objectives in the conflict.

“It’s ensuring that the Gulf countries continue to send oil and gas to the world economy so that we have energy price stability, that’s obviously important for the American people,” Vance said.

“I know that oil is down today and it’s way down from the highs in the early days of the conflict. That’s goal number one, keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country and then obviously goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”

Vance said he was confident the administration was pursuing both objectives, while acknowledging that the conflict remained unpredictable. His comments came as the national gasoline average remained above $4 a gallon, with AAA saying prices had reached their highest level for this point in August.

The differing emphasis comes as gasoline prices remain a concern for voters ahead of the November midterm elections, with affordability and inflation among the key issues for voters this year. Gas prices have continued to rise amid the conflict and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.