Trump says Ukraine strikes on Russian refineries are helping drive US gasoline prices higher

President Donald Trump has said Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries are helping push up gasoline prices in the United States. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, he argued that refinery strikes, rather than the Strait of Hormuz, were now a key factor behind fuel costs. The comments came as US pump prices were reported to have risen above $4 a gallon, the highest level since 2022.

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Trump also sought to downplay the role of the war between the United States and Iran in keeping fuel prices elevated, saying the market was no longer being driven mainly by disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. He accused Democratic governors of contributing to higher prices by closing refineries in their states, including California. The post placed refinery capacity, rather than crude supply alone, at the centre of his explanation for the latest rise in gasoline costs.

The remarks matter because they link a domestic cost-of-living issue in the United States to the wider war in Ukraine and to global energy-market disruption. Oil prices have been sensitive this year to conflict-related risks, including concerns over supply routes in the Middle East and damage to refining infrastructure. By publicly blaming Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, Trump is also signalling that attacks on energy assets inside Russia are being watched closely in Washington for their possible effect on consumer prices.

The broader backdrop is a market already under pressure from several directions. The supporting material says prices had been high since the start of the year, when the United States attacked Iran alongside Israel and Tehran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz. It also says the route later reopened, but prices remained elevated, with Brent crude again moving above $100 a barrel on Thursday.

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That suggests the latest gasoline increase is being shaped by both geopolitical risk and refinery constraints, rather than by one single event. The post also reflects the political sensitivity of fuel prices in the United States, where gasoline costs can quickly become a campaign issue. Trump referred to the timing of the comments as he faces a tense period less than a month before midterm elections, when voters will choose members of Congress.

His criticism of refinery closures in Democratic-led states adds a domestic political dimension to a story that is otherwise tied to international energy markets. The incident also highlights the role of refining capacity in determining what drivers pay at the pump. Even when crude oil flows recover, disruptions to processing and transport can keep fuel prices elevated.

The supporting material says exports from the Persian Gulf had recovered to 23.3 million barrels a day in the last week of September, close to the 2025 average, yet prices remained high, underscoring the difference between crude availability and the ability to turn that crude into usable fuel. What remains unclear is how much of the latest rise in US gasoline prices can be attributed specifically to Ukrainian strikes, compared with broader market pressure from the Iran conflict and domestic refinery issues. It is also not clear whether Trump's comments will lead to any policy response or remain a political message aimed at voters concerned about inflation.

For now, the key point is that refinery security and fuel affordability are being treated as linked issues in the White House's public messaging.