Trump Mocks Americans Complaining About High Gas Prices During Dallas Speech

DALLAS — President Donald Trump mocked Americans who have complained about skyrocketing gas prices during his speech at the Republican National Committee's midterm convention on Wednesday night, drawing sharp criticism as the national average for a gallon of gasoline hit a record high.

According to attendees and video from the event, Trump dismissed concerns about the cost of fuel, which has surged amid the ongoing war with Iran and disruptions to global oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

"You know, they come up to me — grown men, crying — 'Mr. President, gas is so expensive,'" Trump said, according to pool reports. "And I say, 'So what? We're winning the war. You want to pay a little more at the pump, or do you want Iran to have a nuclear weapon?'"

The crowd reportedly laughed and applauded.

The Reality of Gas Prices

The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline stood at **$4.15 on Labor Day**, the highest level ever recorded for the holiday, according to AAA. In some states, particularly those reliant on imports affected by the Strait of Hormuz disruptions, prices have exceeded $5 per gallon.

The surge has been driven by the U.S.-Iran conflict, which has disrupted approximately 20% of the world's oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The White House has repeatedly claimed that the war will end "immediately after" the November midterms, predicting that oil prices will "tumble downward" once the conflict concludes.

Backlash and Response

The president's remarks drew immediate condemnation from Democrats and even some Republicans, who argued that mocking struggling families was politically tone-deaf.

"People are paying $4.15 a gallon to get to work, to take their kids to school, and the president is laughing at them," said Democratic National Committee spokesperson Alex Floyd. "This isn't winning. This is arrogance."

A Republican strategist, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the comments were "not helpful" with less than two months until the midterms. "We're getting hammered on the economy," the strategist said. "We don't need the president reminding voters that he's not feeling their pain."

The Dallas Convention

Trump's speech at the American Airlines Center was intended to energize the Republican base ahead of the November elections. He also used the address to lead the crowd in a pledge that included the phrase "cheat like hell" and promised a $5,000 "dividend" check contingent on Republicans winning both chambers of Congress.

The convention, which Trump described as "a major, sold out hit," featured thousands of empty seats in the upper decks, according to multiple media reports.

The Bottom Line

For the White House, the strategy appears to be a bet that voters will accept short-term economic pain in exchange for military victory in Iran. But as gas prices climb and the midterms approach, Trump's mockery of families struggling at the pump may prove to be a costly political miscalculation.

This article is based on pool reports and publicly available information as of September 11, 2026.