Contact The Editor
Articles By This Author
Donald Trump knows that his political fortunes are directly tied to record-high diesel prices.
Just look at the deal the president struck with Russia on Friday - one that has drawn considerab
le blowback from some in the president’s own party. Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a report from my colleagues Michael Birnbaum and Evan Halper, has agreed to supply diesel fuel to the global marketplace after what Trump called a "highly successful discussion" with the Russian leader.
Analysts quickly noted that the agreement - which Trump said would support more than 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to the global market this month, an additional 500,000 tons in November and one million tons in the subsequent months - represented just a small slice of U.S. production, and therefore would have a minimal effect on prices that are at record highs because of the president’s ongoing war with Iran.
The move directly contradicts work that Republicans, including Trump, have tried to do as Russia continues its war with Ukraine. Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act less than a month ago. The bill gave Trump sweeping power to impose new sanctions on Russia and its energy industry. Instead, the Treasury Department on Friday announced the United States had lifted sanctions on Russian diesel.
The blowback from some in Trump’s party was swift.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican running in a notably competitive race in the Philadelphia suburbs, wrote that he would force the Republican-controlled House to block "any and all purchases of Russian oil."
"It will be called the ‘Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act,’" he wrote on X in response to Trump. "It will be forced to the Floor via discharge and it will pass overwhelmingly."
Putin "will never be our friend," said Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican. "So the president is doing everything he can to get diesel prices down. But you know what’s going to bring diesel prices down? An end to the war in Iran."
And Rep. Michael McCaul, a retiring Texas Republican, said he was "concerned the lifting of sanctions on Russian oil will only fund the Kremlin’s war machine - emboldening more violence and destruction, as we have seen in recent days."
It’s not entirely surprising that Trump is softer on Russia than his Republican counterparts. That has often been the case - and the president followed up this deal by blaming Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky for the ongoing conflict with Russia and saying he should be replaced.
"Zelensky could have settled this war many times - many, many times. And he chooses not to," Trump said on Saturday. "I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president."
Trump’s weekend, however, highlights how Republicans’ fortunes at the ballot box are inextricably linked to diesel fuel prices.
A Reuters survey released Friday found almost 8 in 10 Americans blame Trump’s administration for rising costs. That finding builds on weeks of polling that have found voters are not only angry about high fuel prices, but blame Republicans.
Trump has largely dismissed the focus on higher gas prices, telling an audience in Nebraska last week that gas prices are "a little bit high." But he added, "It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe."
This deal with Russia suggests the president knows it is not that small of a price to pay - and is directly tied to Republican’s political success.
(COMMENT, BELOW)
Previously:
• Dems are running against the One Big Beautiful Bill. What can they do if they win?
• Dems sound the money alarm in a key battleground
• Republican candidates are breaking with Trump on Iran as midterms looms
• Republicans have one clear advantage this November
• The midterms are over. Sort of
• Working-class Americans aren't running for office. It's changing our politics
• Why this popular Dem is running like he is behind
• The divide between Trump and Vance on Iran
• The bipartisan rise of Flock cameras as a political issue
• Are data centers enough to flip a key House race?
• Voters want fighters. But where is the limit?
• Is the midterm cake baked?
• Is the midterm cake baked?
• For the DNC, no money, more problems