Will Trump’s ‘Freedom Fuel’ Lower Prices as Drivers Rage at Pump Pain?

The White House launched 25 Freedom Fuel gas stations, all selling fuel at $3.47 a gallon.

The White House announced the initiative July 7 on X with a video of customers thanking President Donald Trump for lowering gas prices. The stations are located in the greater Philadelphia area, the White House told USA TODAY in an email on July 7.

In the video, one customer claimed the gas station saved him money. “I thought gas was more expensive, but it’s not,” the man, who was not identified, said. “Thanks, Trump, for saving me some money.”

The move comes as Americans continue to worry about gas prices at the pump ahead of the November midterm elections. But the price of Freedom gas is only slightly lower than the national average.

According to AAA data, the national average price of fuel was $3.84 on Thursday, July 9. The average price of gas in Pennsylvania on Thursday, July 9 was $3.99.

The USA TODAY Cars Team looked at why Trump is trying to lower gas prices and whether his latest “Freedom Fuel” effort is likely to be sustainable.

Why Are Gas Prices So High?

Earlier this year, gas prices began rising in all 50 states, bringing the national average to nearly $5 in May. Significant spikes were observed in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, according to GasBuddy, a fuel industry analyst.

Gas prices are determined by the cost of crude oil, which is traded in global markets and saw cost increases due to the U.S.-Iran war. At its peak, Brent crude spiked more than 55% and nearly hit $120 a barrel.

The sharp rise stemmed from shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

In 2025, almost 34% of global crude oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the International Energy Agency. After the United States and Iran reached a tentative agreement to end the war in June, effectively reopening the Strait of Hormuz, gasoline prices began to fall.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the cost at the pump is largely driven by these four components: crude oil, refining costs, distribution and marketing, and federal and state taxes.

On July 7, Hawaii, California, and Washington all had average gas prices above $5 a gallon. Meanwhile, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Texas had some of the cheapest numbers, according to AAA data.

The locations of the Freedom Fuel gas stations are available on the company’s website.

How Else Has Trump Tried to Lower Gas Prices?

Trump has previously pressured gas retailers to lower prices at the pump, accusing them of price gouging at a time when oil barrel prices were starting to fall.

Trump has also been pushing Congress to pass legislation that would allow sales of higher-ethanol gasoline as U.S. lawmakers grapple with rising gas prices that have upset many Americans in an election year.

In an updated 2026 budget request sent to Congress on June 24, the White House requested a new law that would codify “the permanent, year-round sale” of E15 gas, which is gasoline blended with 15% ethanol. Doing so, the White House said, would amount to “an urgent and needed policy change that would expand consumer choice, support domestic fuel production, and provide additional flexibility in fuel markets.”

What Are People Saying About Trump’s ‘Freedom Fuel’?

Analysts doubt Trump’s moves to lower gas prices will be sustainable without major changes to the military situation in Iran.

“One of the biggest misconceptions I see: people assume oil and gasoline have a fixed relationship,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, wrote in an X post. “They don’t. crude is the largest input cost, but gasoline has its own market. sometimes they move together. sometimes they move in opposite directions.”

De Haan predicted in a separate X post that gas prices are likely to rise in the coming days.

“With news of Russia suspending diesel exports, markets have accelerated their climb,” he wrote. “In addition, the current national average for diesel of $4.75/gal could head back to $5/gal in the next week or two, while the national average gas price heads to $4/gal. oil+refining surge.”

Environmentalists sharply criticized Trump for offering “artificially underpriced” gas while he is gutting federal fuel economy standards.

“In advance of this short-term gimmick making headlines, Trump’s EPA teed up Congress for an unlawful attack on the Advanced Clean Cars program, which, for the last 15 years, has ensured more clean, efficient cars are accessible to over 40% of the state’s passenger vehicle market,” Elias Asher, a program associate at Sunstone Strategies, which is an Oakland, Calif.-based climate policy-focused consulting firm, said in an email.

Asher called the launch of the “Freedom Fuel” stations a “hypocritical attempt by Trump to convince Americans (at least the ones living near these gas stations) that he cares about how much they’re paying at the pump.”

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected]. Keith Laing is an automotive reporter at USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected].

Reporting by Michelle Del Rey and Keith Laing, USA TODAY / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.