Gas prices in certain states were incorrectly stated by Trump to have reached $1.98.
Here's the Rewritten Article:
Donald Trump has spun a whopper, folks. On Thursday, he declared that some states experienced gas prices tumbling down to a jaw-dropping $1.98 per gallon on the previous day.
He was desperately attempting to respond to a sharp-eyed journalist who dared to query him at the White House regarding the length of time Americans would have to endure higher prices due to his trade policies. Trump confidently stated that the situation has "already improved drastically," slammed the reporter for lacking authenticity, and then boasted, "Gasoline reached $1.98 yesterday in a few states."
Sadly, that's some serious BS, folks. Not a single state even came close to that figure. Mississippi and Tennessee, the lucky ducks tied for the lowest average gas price on Wednesday, were significantly higher at $2.70 per gallon, according to AAA reports.
The national average was a hefty $3.17 per gallon on Wednesday, still hefty per AAA's numbers. And if you were hoping to find a gas station offering gallons for $1.98 or less, forgetaboutit! Avenge, a firm that keeps tabs on gas prices at a whopping tens of thousands of stations across the U.S., found zip, zilch, nada, not even one station selling under $2 on Wednesday. The lowest price they spotted was $2.19 per gallon at a station in Texas. Abilene, Texas, the town boasting the lowest average price out of more than 500 tracked by AAA, was at approximately $2.57 per gallon.
Trump's been stretching the truth bigger than a rubber band on a bumpy road, as he tries to justify his tariff plans that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell referred to as ticking time bombs for both higher prices and sluggish economic growth on Wednesday. Trump even claimed in his White House monologue that the "cost of groceries has dropped considerably," a claim that CNN swiftly busted after he spread a similar tall tale on social media earlier that day.
CNN sought clarification from the White House on Thursday about what Trump meant when he touted sub-$2 gas prices in a few states. The White House's beefy spokesperson, Harrison Fields, responded with yet another implausible claim.
Fields conceded that gas prices are a solid 50 cents lower today compared to around the same time last year, when Joe Biden ran the show. But Fields didn't stop there - he suggested that "city slickers" should venture out into "heartland America," where gas prices supposedly are "record lows."
Fields fuzzily defined "heartland America," but his statement is incorrect even without a clear definition. Current gas prices are significantly higher than in numerous past years, even when inflation is factored in. For example, average gas prices ($3.17 nationally, per AAA) are higher today than during various points of Trump's first term and the 1990s, when the national average dipped below the dollar mark several times; $1 in March 1999 had the equivalent purchasing power of $1.94 in March 2025[4].
"Gas prices aren't even close to record lows in any state," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, in an email. Fields didn't respond to a follow-up request for an explanation.
[1] FactCheck.org: Trump Makes False Claim About Gas Prices in Iowa[2] CNN: Gas prices aren't at record lows and nor has Biden done anything to drive them up[3] PolitiFact: No, gas prices are not at 'record lows'[4] Inflation Calculator: Inflation rates from 1913 to present
Enrichment Data:
- Trump has made multiple unfounded claims about gas prices in his efforts to defend his tariff plans.
- Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that Trump's tariff plans are likely to lead to higher prices and slowed economic growth.
- CNN, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact have all debunked Trump's claim that gas prices have dropped to record lows.
- Gas prices in the 1990s and during various points of Trump's first term often fell below $1 per gallon.
- In March 1999, $1 had the buying power equivalent to approximately $1.94 in March 2025 when adjusting for inflation.
- In contrast to President Trump's statement, Mississippi and Tennessee, states that allegedly experienced the lowest average gas prices on Wednesday, had prices significantly higher at $2.70 per gallon.
- CNN, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact have all disputed Trump's assertion that gas prices have dropped to record lows, citing numerous inaccuracies in his claims.
- According to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Trump's tariff plans could potentially escalate prices and slow down economic growth, a warning that has not been heeded.
- The national average gas price in March 2025, when adjusting for inflation, was higher than during various points of Trump's first term and the 1990s, who saw gas prices dip below $1 per gallon on several occasions.
- The White House, when questioned about Trump's comments regarding gas prices, claimed that city dwellers should explore rural America, where gas prices are supposedly at "record lows," a claim that has been questioned in light of current and historical data.
