Democratic strategist David Axelrod sharply criticized President Trump on Saturday after the president told a rally crowd he didn't care about soaring fuel costs because oil producers were reaping massive profits. The exchange highlights a political vulnerability for the White House as Americans grapple with the highest pump prices in years.
Speaking at a rally in Perry, Georgia, to support GOP Senate nominee Mike Collins and gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson, Trump anticipated media coverage of his remarks, saying, "I can just see the fake headlines. President Trump is talking about all the money they're making while people are suffering at the pump." He then added, "I don't give a damn. We're making a freaking fortune."
Axelrod, a former senior adviser to Barack Obama, responded on X, noting that Trump's personal financial gain from oil profits was overshadowing public pain. "HE's making money like he's never made before. And he doesn't give a damn about high gas prices. (Not a great closing message, though.)"
The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline stood at $4.29 on Sunday, according to AAA, up sharply from $3.06 a year earlier. The spike is driven largely by the ongoing war with Iran, now in its eighth month, which has disrupted shipping lanes and raised insurance costs for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump acknowledged the temporary nature of the price surge, saying, "Oil prices are temporarily high and will be falling dramatically as soon as that war is over. There's so much oil, all in the [Strait of Hormuz]. There are so many ships. We'll get them out so fast. The United States oil and gas business is making hundreds of billions of dollars."
His comments drew immediate rebuke from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who wrote on X, "Congratulations to Big Oil on their very successful, record-profits presidency." The criticism underscores the political risk for Republicans as they head into the November midterms with inflation and energy costs top of mind for voters.
Oil prices hit their highest level since May on Friday, and analysts warn that if they remain elevated, gas prices could climb further, complicating the GOP's efforts to focus on other issues. The president's dismissive tone may alienate swing voters, particularly in battleground states where fuel costs are a daily concern.
Axelrod's warning echoes broader Democratic messaging that the administration is out of touch with working families. As the midterms approach, the contrast between corporate profits and consumer hardship is likely to feature prominently in Democratic ads, especially in states like Georgia, where the rally took place.
With just weeks until Election Day, the political fallout from Trump's remarks could extend beyond the immediate news cycle. Whether the president can shift the narrative remains uncertain, but his latest comments have given Democrats an opening to paint the GOP as beholden to oil interests.
