Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, national Democrats are testing out a new line of attack against Donald Trump. Nope, it's not about the new evidence accumulating every day that the president bases major policy decisions on how they affect his personal wealth. The Democrats' strategy is all about pinning a moderate rise in gas prices on Trump.

Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic National Committee put out a "sprinkling of statements" blaming Trump for higher gas prices, the Daily Beast reports, the opening salvos in a sustained, coordinated messaging campaign by the party.

Across the country, gas prices are rising.It's clear who to blame: @realdonaldtrump pic.twitter.com/eKxq4yDjD0

— Senate Democrats (@SenateDems) May 21, 2018

Gas price populism is nothing new. Despite the absence of any firm connection between White House policy and the price of fuel, blaming the sitting president for more expensive gas is a timeworn political tactic. Though only Republicans routinely work themselves into full-on drill-baby-drill mania, we're now seeing that Democrats are fully capable of turning an uptick in gas prices into electioneering fodder.

It's a maneuver that sits uncomfortably next to Democrats' position as the major political party that views global warming as serious threat.

Few things are more damaging to the climate than cheap gas, which incentivizes more driving, the purchase of less fuel efficient cars, and sprawling development patterns. As economist Joe Cortright has written, Americans get "locked in" to larger cars with worse fuel economy for the lifecycle of the vehicle -- which can be more than a decade.

Even with the increase in fuel prices in the past year, gas remains relatively cheap by recent standards:

And by the standards of international peer nations, America does not pay much at the pump:

The longer America's addiction to low fuel prices continues, the harder it will be to make a transition to carbon-efficient transportation and development patterns. Democrats are going to tie themselves in knots if they try to be the party fighting for cheap gas and against global warming at the same time.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Car Harms Monday: Machines Took Over Cities and Left Humans in the Dust

There isn't enough physical space for every single household to store its fleet of personal vehicles in front of the home, nor is there space for everyone to drive at the same time. So let's fix that.

May 19, 2025

What Are University Transportation Centers — And Why Did Secretary Duffy Decimate Their Budgets?

University Transportation Centers are "where innovation happens." Earlier this month, though, the Trump administration took a sledgehammer to their budgets.

May 19, 2025

Monday’s Big, Beautiful Headlines

Ride-hailing and delivery apps are backing the Republican reconciliation bill because it includes a tax exemption for drivers' tips.

May 19, 2025

Friday Video: A Deep Dive on the Endless Debate Over Bike Helmets

Everything you need to know the next time someone asks you if you're "for or against" bike helmets.

May 16, 2025

Disrupting Friday’s Headlines

Elevator pitch: Buses, but they only seat six people, and you have to book one ahead of time.

May 16, 2025
See all posts