White House officials admit frustration over soaring fuel costs and lack of quick fixes

White House insiders are said to be increasingly frustrated by the climb in oil and gasoline prices, which they view as a drag on economic growth. Former economic adviser Stephen Moore told reporters that the administration feels powerless, noting that the oil market is worldwide and offers few immediate levers. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have issued statements aimed at reassuring the public, but President Donald Trump has posted on Truth Social that oil is flowing through the Hormuz Strait and that a deal with Iran is imminent.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied any such agreement, and economists such as Robert Shapiro and Richard Wolff have warned that geopolitical risks will keep prices high. The administration’s narrative that the Iran-Ukraine war will ultimately lower fuel costs has been widely challenged.