'Don’t worry, America!': Gavin Newsom mocks Trump over his oil prices statement

Commenting on President Donald Trump's recent post claiming that high oil prices are benefiting America, California Governor Gavin Newsom, a longtime critic of Trump's economic and defense policies, responded with a short quip. "Don’t worry, America! Your gas prices are going up — but Trump is making lots of money. So it's ok," Newsom wrote on X. The California governor has been a constant critic of the President's decision to start a military operation in Iran, and more recently, has been highlighting the rise in gas prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iran's threat of attacking ships that attempt to cross the Strait has sent oil prices soaring. Nearly 20% of the world's oil supply transits from the critical chokepoint Iran controls. While President Trump has repeatedly warned Iran against massive retaliation if it attacks cargo ships, reports claim that the Iranian military hit at least three commercial ships in a single day. On March 13, 2026, the national average gas price in the United States was above the $3.63 per gallon.

Newsom and several other Democrats have used this opportunity to further criticise the Trump administration’s fiscal priorities, with many claiming that Operation Epic Fury is an unnecessary war of "Trump's choice". The Democrats have continually contrasted the cost of the war with the Trump administration’s recent budgetary decisions. "Trump's Iran war is costing Americans $1.5 billion more at the pump this week alone, and what are Americans getting in return? Not better roads. Not cleaner air. Just higher prices as corporations pocket the higher prices and cash in on Trump's chaos," Newsom had said earlier. 

Among Republican lawmakers, Thomas Massie has criticised the President's action on Iran, claiming it does not align with Trump's "America First" campaign promises. "Waging war costs American taxpayers about $1 billion per day, which comes out to $10 per family per day, or $100 since the war began. This isn't America First," Massie had written in a social media post.

In response, Trump has opposed Massie's campaign for the May 19 Primary elections, calling the Congressman "the worst Republican." The President has instead endorsed Ed Gallrein, a farmer and retired Navy SEAL, calling him a "true patriot". As per the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the first 100 hours of the operation are estimated to cost $3.7 billion; the cost is expected to drop and will depend on the effectiveness of Iran's retaliation.

The White House has, however, assured that the price rises are temporary. On Tuesday, White Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Operation Epic Fury had been a "resounding success" and indicated that the U.S. operation is heading towards an end. "The recent increase in oil and gas prices is temporary, and this operation will result in lower gas prices in the long term," she said. President Trump, too, has said that the Iran conflict will "end soon."