Trump says US oil earnings will offset high fuel costs amid Iran war

Donald Trump defended high US fuel prices by saying the country was making record money from oil production amid the war with Iran, while promising prices at the pump would fall rapidly. His remarks come as rising energy costs and public frustration over the conflict are putting pressure on Republican candidates.

The national average price of petrol was $4.27 a gallon and diesel was $6.35, compared with petrol at $2.81 in January. Trump also highlighted the first shipment of Venezuelan oil to arrive under an agreement with the US, saying it was being supplied at no cost to American taxpayers. A CNN analysis of AAA data put average petrol prices during his second term at $3.473 a gallon, slightly above the $3.471 average under Joe Biden.