In a moment that blended campaign promise with economic forecast, former President Donald Trump stood before an audience in Japan and declared what could become one of the most impactful economic claims of his post-presidency: gas prices dropping to $2 per gallon — and soon.
“Our motto is drill baby drill,” Trump announced, reviving the energy-first rhetoric that defined much of his first term’s policy framework. “$2 gasoline pretty soon,” he added, calling it “bigger than a tax cut.”
And while the statement made headlines for its boldness, it’s also drawing sharp attention for its potential economic implications — especially in the lead-up to what many expect to be a consequential 2026 midterm cycle.
The AAA national average for a gallon of regular gasoline currently sits at $3.044. While that’s down significantly from the record highs of June 2022, when prices surged to $5.016 under President Joe Biden’s administration, it’s still far from the $2 mark Trump is predicting.
If that prediction becomes reality, the ripple effects would stretch far beyond the gas pump. Lower fuel costs typically translate into reduced transportation costs for goods, softening the overall inflationary burden felt by American families. And at a time when grocery bills, rent, and interest rates remain major pain points, that kind of relief would be both practical and political gold.
Trump’s comments were made in the context of his newly-declared “National Energy Dominance Month,” a symbolic proclamation aimed at underscoring what he frames as a stark contrast between his energy policies and those of the current administration. “As the 47th President of the United States, my energy policy is defined by maximum production, maximum prosperity, and maximum power,” he said.
That messaging echoes his first-term efforts, where the U.S. briefly became a net energy exporter — something Trump has often pointed to as proof of the success of his “America First” energy agenda.
Critics may argue that oil prices are influenced by global supply chains and geopolitical events beyond any single administration’s control, but Trump’s central message is hard to miss: unshackling American energy production means cheaper gas, stronger domestic growth, and a revitalized middle class.
As always, the question isn’t whether the prediction will generate headlines — it already has — but whether it can become reality. For millions of drivers across the country, the answer can’t come soon enough.
