President Trump said the nation is “making a fortune” from high oil prices while promising relief at the pump will follow soon, igniting a debate over profits versus pain that Americans can feel every time they fill up.
Story Highlights
- Trump said U.S. oil and gas companies and states are reaping large gains from higher prices.
- He acknowledged consumers are paying more now but said prices will come down.
- News outlets reported average gasoline near $4.28–$4.37 per gallon in October.
- Critics seized on Trump’s “I don’t give a damn” line to attack his message.
What Trump Said In Georgia And Why It Matters
President Trump told a rally in Perry, Georgia, on October 24 that the United States is “making hundreds of billions of dollars” as oil production in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana benefits from global price spikes. He said the oil and gas sector is “making a freaking fortune” and linked those gains to national strength. He also said advisers urged him not to highlight the windfall because people are paying more, but he predicted prices will fall soon.
Coverage focused on one line: “I don’t give a damn,” framed as indifference to pain at the pump. The remarks, however, paired two points: short-term consumer strain and a claim of outsized producer gains that flow to energy states and jobs. Reports reproduced the quotes but did not present government revenue data or audited company filings to confirm the “hundreds of billions” figure or show who receives the gains and how they offset family budgets.
Where Prices Stand And What Households Face
Several outlets reported average gasoline around the mid-$4 range while Trump spoke. International Business Times placed the national average near $4.29 per gallon, and CBS News cited $4.37 on October 9, up about 47 percent from pre-war levels. Those prices strain commuters, truckers, and small businesses and ripple into food and goods. The visible pump number shapes voter views, even when global supply and refining issues drive much of the spike.
A Brown University tracker, cited by CNN, estimated Americans paid about $100.9 billion extra on gasoline and diesel since the Iran war began, roughly $770 per household. That included about $55 billion more on gasoline and about $46 billion on diesel. These figures highlight real household costs that cannot be waved away by pointing to state royalties or company profits, even if those gains support jobs and tax bases in energy states.
Profits, Revenues, And The Core Tradeoff
Trump’s remarks blended “our country” making money with “the oil and gas business” making money. That mix matters. Company profits, state severance taxes, and federal royalties rise with higher prices, but those are not the same as direct relief to families. The Energy Information Administration explains pump prices reflect crude costs, refinery margins, distribution, marketing, and taxes. Producer windfalls can grow while motorists still pay more each week.
The conservative question is how to turn energy strength into family relief fast. Faster permits, more refinery uptime, expanded pipeline capacity, and clear export rules can lift supply and ease bottlenecks. Transparent data on royalties, lease revenues, and state taxes could show what governments collect and how to return value to drivers, for example through temporary fee relief funded by the surge. Without timely price relief, the political cost grows as receipts rise.
Scope For Price Relief And Messaging Risks
Trump asserted prices would fall soon but did not name a date, target, or policy lever. That forecast faces risks if global supply shocks, shipping threats, or refinery outages persist. The New York Times said experts doubt a proposed Russian diesel arrangement would add enough volume to move U.S. prices in the near term. If prices stay high, critics will replay the “I don’t give a damn” clip to claim the White House is out of touch.
🚨BREAKING: President Trump dismisses criticism over high gas prices, saying the U.S. is making record profits and that he doesn’t care about the backlash.
The "Corporation" is making record profits!
The People are struggling.
Trump is part of the "Corporation"
The SWAMP! pic.twitter.com/WDKju7lh7B— Texas Warrior Kimm Schuman (@SchumanKimm) October 25, 2026
Democratic strategists already argue the message is a gift to opponents. The Hill highlighted that voters remain angry about gas and grocery costs, quoting Republicans who say pocketbook pain still drives frustration. The political lesson is simple: explain the plan to cut prices with clear steps and timelines, while defending American energy freedom. Energy profits mean little to families unless they see relief when they swipe their card.
What Conservatives Should Watch Next
Watch for hard numbers from Treasury, the Department of the Interior, and energy states that show royalties, lease payments, and severance taxes tied to the price spike. Look for refinery maintenance schedules, pipeline capacity updates, and any temporary waivers that ease bottlenecks. Monitor weekly data from the Energy Information Administration on gasoline and diesel. Tie every policy move to one yardstick: cents per gallon saved for families and small businesses at home.
Sources:
yahoo.com, themirror.com, vinnews.com, thehill.com, nbcnews.com, reuters.com, finance.yahoo.com
