Newsom’s Gas Price Blame Game CRUMBLES

Close-up of a man in a suit with a thoughtful expression, hand on chin

Governor Gavin Newsom’s attempt to blame President Trump’s Iran policies for soaring gas prices backfires spectacularly as critics expose California’s own punishing taxes and green regulations as the true culprits behind $5.29/gallon insanity.

Story Snapshot

Newsom blames Trump’s “war with Iran” for $1.5 billion in weekly U.S. gas costs while claiming California policies stabilized prices.
California gas averages $5.29/gallon—highest in nation—due to state taxes, refinery closures, and CARB carbon caps, not federal actions.
Chevron warns Newsom’s rules threaten refinery shutdowns, $1+/gallon hikes, 500K+ job losses, and national security risks.
Trump administration issued 6,000+ drilling permits; critics like Burgum and Hilton slam Newsom’s hypocrisy amid ongoing state-fueled price gouging.

Newsom’s Blame Game Unravels

On March 12, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X accusing President Donald Trump’s “war with Iran” of driving up U.S. gas prices by $1.5 billion in one week alone. Newsom credited California’s oversight laws like SBX1-2 and ABX2-1 for mitigating impacts and stabilizing local prices. California drivers, however, face $5.29 per gallon averages, far exceeding national figures. This claim ignores decades of state policies inflating costs through the nation’s highest gas taxes and fees.

State Policies Fuel the Fire

California’s gas prices exceed national averages due to mandates for low-carbon reformulated gasoline, refinery reductions for climate goals, and high taxes. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) proposes withdrawing 118.3 million pollution allowances from 2027-2030, prompting Chevron President Andy Walz to warn of a “death knell” for refineries. This risks $1 or more per gallon increases, over 500,000 job losses, and heightened national security vulnerabilities from import reliance. Newsom’s administration targets 90% carbon reductions by 2045, prioritizing emissions over affordability.

Historical spikes in 2022-2023 led Newsom to sign transparency laws, which he claims dropped prices 70 cents per gallon from 2022 peaks, saving $9.3 billion. Yet averages remain above $5, contradicting stability assertions. In 2025, SB 237 allowed limited Kern County oil boosts with 385 permits issued, but CARB’s aggressive caps overshadow these efforts. California imports most refined fuel, amplifying global shock vulnerability despite clean energy ambitions.

Critics Deliver Hard Receipts

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton labeled California’s taxes “highest in America.” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum highlighted federal approvals of over 6,000 drilling permits under Trump’s “American Energy Dominance,” contrasting California’s restrictions. U.S. Oil & Gas Association’s Tim Stewart warned of economic spillover to western states. Chevron’s letter to Newsom detailed job and security threats from cap-and-invest amendments. These specifics undermine Newsom’s narrative, exposing state mismanagement as the core driver of pain at the pump.

Gavin Newsom Gets Covered in His Own Receipts While Trying to Blame Trump for High Energy Prices in CA https://t.co/CdeIRdY2lL

— BREAKING NEWZ Alert (@MustReadNewz) March 14, 2026

Newsom positions clean energy as insulation from global shocks, citing a 20-cent drop from 2023 to 2024 per the California Energy Commission. Critics counter that persistent $5+ averages and refinery threats prove green agendas harm working families, union jobs, agriculture, and manufacturing. Short-term, Trump’s Iran conflict adds pressure per Newsom’s unverified $1.5 billion estimate. Long-term, CARB rules could shutter refining, spiking prices further and eroding energy independence—core conservative priorities of limited government and economic freedom.