President Donald Trump said gasoline prices are now being driven by refinery disruptions rather than the Strait of Hormuz. For working families watching every fill-up, the immediate takeaway is simple: his October 5 statement announced no new U.S. fuel program or release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, “What’s driving up Gasoline is no longer the Strait of Hormuz,” and pointed to Russian refineries struck by Ukraine and refinery closures in Democratic-led states, including California. That is the President’s stated explanation for higher prices.
What did President Trump say is pushing gas prices higher?
The President said the issue is “Refineries.” His statement says that record numbers of barrels are coming out on an almost daily basis, while Russian refineries are being damaged in the Ukraine war and U.S. refineries are being closed in blue states.
That distinction matters at the pump. Trump’s point was not that Americans need to wait for more oil to exist. It was that crude oil still has to move through refineries before it becomes the gasoline and diesel that families, truckers, farms, and small businesses buy.
For related coverage of the waterway and shipping situation, readers can see Hormuz oil flows and Trump’s Hormuz warning.
Is the United States in a fuel shortage?
Trump’s October 5 post did not declare a U.S. fuel shortage. He said barrels were coming out in record numbers and focused instead on refining capacity and refinery damage.
A Reuters report carried by A News said oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz normally account for one-fifth of global oil supplies. That figure describes a major transit route, not ownership of the world’s oil.
Has Trump released oil from U.S. reserves?
No U.S. reserve release was announced in the President’s October 5 Truth Social post. The post addressed the cause of higher gasoline prices as Trump sees it: refineries in Russia and the United States.
Separately, Anadolu reported that G7 leaders agreed to begin a coordinated release of 100 million barrels from emergency reserves over four months. That is a G7 action reported by Anadolu, not an announced U.S. reserve release in Trump’s post.
What is happening to gas prices right now?
Anadolu reported, citing AAA data, that the national average for regular gasoline was $4.37 per gallon on October 5, up from $4.15 one month earlier and $3.13 at the same time a year earlier. Those are national averages; your local price can differ based on refinery supply, taxes, transportation, and local market conditions.
| Measure | Figure reported October 5 |
|---|---|
| National regular-gas average | $4.37 per gallon |
| One month earlier | $4.15 per gallon |
| Same time one year earlier | $3.13 per gallon |
| Planned G7 emergency-reserve release | 100 million barrels over four months |
What is Trump doing about the Strait of Hormuz?
In this statement, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz was no longer the main driver of gasoline prices because oil barrels were again coming out in record numbers. He did not announce a new order, blockade, reserve release, or timetable in that post.
That leaves the next practical question for drivers: whether increased oil flows and the planned emergency-reserve release are followed by improved refinery supply and lower local prices. The President’s statement identifies refineries as the pressure point; the G7 release is a separate step already reported by Anadolu.
What should you watch next?
- Whether gasoline prices in your area follow the national average.
- Whether refinery disruptions in Russia or U.S. closures continue to affect fuel supply.
- When and how the reported G7 reserve release reaches the market.
- Whether the White House announces a separate U.S. reserve action.
By USPatriotNews.com Editorial Team
