WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Donald Trump is renewing his message that high gas and diesel prices are worth the cost as the war between the U.S. and Iran passes the six-month mark.
AAA says the price of diesel hit its highest recorded average on Thursday, coming in at nearly $6.40. The national average for a gallon of gas remains well above $4, with AAA putting the average at more than $4.40 a gallon on Thursday.
That comes even as experts say this is normally the time of year gas prices fall as summer driving demand cools and amid the switch to winter blend fuel.
Trump says nuclear threat justifies cost
Trump insisted that stopping Iran from having a nuclear weapon is worth it.
“You have a little higher, you have a higher. It’s a very inexpensive price to pay for what we’ve done. Remember that it’s a little more. It’s even if it was, frankly, even if it was a lot more, but that’s gonna come tumbling down. That’s gonna be like a rocket ship in reverse,” Trump said.
Trump also said he hopes “hopefully toward the end of the war.” That was after he said earlier this week that he is open to “the concept of restarting talks with Iran.” There have been little signs from either side that a deal could be near.
Fed rate decision draws criticism
The Federal Reserve, led by Trump-picked Chair Kevin Warsh, raised interest rates this week for the first time since 2023. Trump criticized the decision, saying the rate should be 1% or less. He held off on criticizing Warsh, marking a departure from his past personal feuds with the previous head of the Federal Reserve.
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