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Trump allies blame Ukraine for rising U.S. gas prices

financeSep 5, 202618352

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have publicly blamed Ukraine for recent spikes in U.S. gasoline prices, with Bessent telling Fox News "Ukraine has decided that they want to blow up Russian energy assets" and Duffy saying "When you look at diesel, you have to look at Russia and Ukraine." Progressive commentator David Pakman pushed back, saying Bessent framed Ukraine as if it "woke up one morning" to start attacks and pointed to what he called an "Iran-shaped elephant": he argued that President Donald Trump launched a war with Iran that has disrupted global energy markets. Analysts and reporting note limits to what Trump can do to lower prices quickly because global refining shortfalls and other international disruptions constrain supply, leaving the administration politically exposed on gas costs ahead of the midterms.

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