Trump Predicts Gas Prices Will Fall Below $2 a Gallon After Midterms

President says current high prices are 'the cost' of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon

By [Staff Writer] | September 10, 2026

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. — President Donald Trump insisted Thursday that gas prices will drop below $2 a gallon after the midterm elections, telling reporters that current elevated prices at the pump are the price of keeping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"Right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward. They're going to be tumbling down, and we'll get them down, I think for gasoline, we'll get them below $2 a gallon," Trump said during remarks ahead of the Republican National Committee's midterm convention.

'The Cost' of Confronting Iran

The president framed the current price levels as a deliberate trade-off, arguing that his administration's pressure campaign on Tehran—including military action and sanctions targeting Iran's nuclear program—has contributed to higher energy costs.

Trump has repeatedly said that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is a top national security priority, and he suggested Americans are paying a short-term economic price for that objective.

Timing Raises Questions

The president's prediction that prices will fall "right after the election" drew immediate scrutiny, with critics noting the timeline suggests relief may be tied to political considerations rather than market forces alone. The midterm elections are set for November.

Trump did not offer a specific mechanism or policy plan for how his administration would drive prices below the $2 threshold, a level not seen nationally in several years.

Live Remarks at Joint Base Andrews

The comments came during a live appearance at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where the president spoke ahead of the RNC midterm convention. The event was carried live by Fox News, which issued a breaking news alert for the president's remarks.

The White House did not immediately provide additional details on the administration's energy strategy or a timeline for the projected price decline.