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MaddowBlog-On gas prices, Republicans try rewriting the recent past and the present simultaneously
As the war in Iran enters its third month, and prices at the pump reach a four-year high, the GOP’s line on the issue has taken a farcical turn.
Watching Republicans like Steve Scalise rewrite recent history on gas prices is exasperating. Watching Republicans like Tim Scott rewrite the present is worse.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-05-01T12:52:04.945Z
I mean, really, who looks at this and decides to tell a national audience, “Gas prices continue to come down�
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-gas-prices-republicans-rewrite-history
For obvious reasons, prominent GOP voters couldn’t just tell the truth — rising gas prices are the direct result of President Donald Trump launching an unnecessary war in Iran — so leading Republicans settled on three remarkable tactics.
1. Rewrite the recent past. On Thursday morning, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise appeared on CNBC and tried to argue that gas prices are lower now than they were in 2024. “People will remember that two years ago, we were paying almost $6 a gallon for gas,” the Louisiana Republican said. “Right now, it’s $3.”
The problem with Scalise’s pitch was that he didn’t appear to have any idea what he was talking about. Gas prices weren’t anywhere close to $6 a gallon two years ago, and gas prices are well above $3 a gallon now. The House GOP leader asked people to “remember” a version of reality that did not, and does not, exist. It led Scott Horton of Harper’s Magazine to note, “The GOP campaign this fall will depend entirely on misremembering recent history.”
2. Rewrite the present. While it was jarring to see the House majority leader describe a made-up version of the recent past to a national television audience, it was arguably worse to see Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina appear on Fox Business around the same time and tell viewers, “Gas prices continue to come down.”
No, they don’t.
......It’s not altogether clear whether party officials have pushed talking points to their members, offering guidance on what to say about one of the issues foremost on the mind of many American consumers. But as the war in Iran enters its third month, and prices at the pump reach a four-year high, it appears Republicans have nothing persuasive, honest or even coherent to say on the subject.
1. Rewrite the recent past. On Thursday morning, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise appeared on CNBC and tried to argue that gas prices are lower now than they were in 2024. “People will remember that two years ago, we were paying almost $6 a gallon for gas,” the Louisiana Republican said. “Right now, it’s $3.”
The problem with Scalise’s pitch was that he didn’t appear to have any idea what he was talking about. Gas prices weren’t anywhere close to $6 a gallon two years ago, and gas prices are well above $3 a gallon now. The House GOP leader asked people to “remember” a version of reality that did not, and does not, exist. It led Scott Horton of Harper’s Magazine to note, “The GOP campaign this fall will depend entirely on misremembering recent history.”
SCALISE: We've delivered. Remember that 2 years ago, we were paying almost a gallon. Right now it's in the s
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-04-30T12:17:08.841Z
KERNEN: When were we paying ?
SCALISE: 2.5 years ago
K: That's not right
S: We are lowering inflation
K: We're actually above where we were then. 2 years ago the average was .65
2. Rewrite the present. While it was jarring to see the House majority leader describe a made-up version of the recent past to a national television audience, it was arguably worse to see Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina appear on Fox Business around the same time and tell viewers, “Gas prices continue to come down.”
No, they don’t.
......It’s not altogether clear whether party officials have pushed talking points to their members, offering guidance on what to say about one of the issues foremost on the mind of many American consumers. But as the war in Iran enters its third month, and prices at the pump reach a four-year high, it appears Republicans have nothing persuasive, honest or even coherent to say on the subject.
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
The president still hasn’t explained what in the world he was talking about, or why those undefined moves failed so badly.
It was two months ago today when Trump boasted, “Yesterday, my administration announced decisive action to help keep down the oil prices.†He quickly added that prices “have pretty much stabilized.â€
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-05-05T17:06:39.673Z
Today seemed like a good day to revisit that quote.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-gas-prices-iran-boast-two-months
“Yesterday, my administration announced decisive action to help keep down the oil prices,” the Republican declared. Moments later, he went on to say oil prices “have pretty much stabilized.”
It was never altogether clear what “decisive” actions the president was referring to, but two months later, it’s painfully clear that those mysterious moves failed to “pretty much stabilize” prices. MS NOW reported:
A day later, that national average inched higher, reaching $4.48 per gallon, while the average for diesel climbed to $5.66.
An analysis published by Bloomberg News described the recent trend as the sharpest spike in pump prices in at least three decades, and while the president has continued to insist that prices will plummet after the war, the fact remains that (a) it’s far from clear when the conflict will be over; and (b) dozens of energy sites throughout the Middle East have been struck as part of the war; wells have to be reopened; and some infrastructure will have to be rebuilt, all of which will take time.....
As for Trump, in March, he tried to pitch the public on the idea that higher prices were a good thing — a line that proves so foolish that even he didn’t repeat it — which gave way to the president saying in April that gas prices were “not very high.”
His latest line, offered on Tuesday morning, argued that higher prices at the pump are “a very small price to pay,” which is easy for him to say given he doesn’t have to worry about paying those prices.
As for the “decisive” actions he claims to have taken two months ago, that he said “pretty much stabilized” prices, Trump still hasn’t explained what in the world he was talking about, or why those undefined moves failed so badly.
It was never altogether clear what “decisive” actions the president was referring to, but two months later, it’s painfully clear that those mysterious moves failed to “pretty much stabilize” prices. MS NOW reported:
The average price for a gallon of gas in the U.S. reached $4.46 [on Monday] as the standstill in the Strait of Hormuz continues to strain global energy markets. The average price for one gallon of diesel fuel topped $5.64, according to national averages tracked by AAA.
A day later, that national average inched higher, reaching $4.48 per gallon, while the average for diesel climbed to $5.66.
An analysis published by Bloomberg News described the recent trend as the sharpest spike in pump prices in at least three decades, and while the president has continued to insist that prices will plummet after the war, the fact remains that (a) it’s far from clear when the conflict will be over; and (b) dozens of energy sites throughout the Middle East have been struck as part of the war; wells have to be reopened; and some infrastructure will have to be rebuilt, all of which will take time.....
As for Trump, in March, he tried to pitch the public on the idea that higher prices were a good thing — a line that proves so foolish that even he didn’t repeat it — which gave way to the president saying in April that gas prices were “not very high.”
His latest line, offered on Tuesday morning, argued that higher prices at the pump are “a very small price to pay,” which is easy for him to say given he doesn’t have to worry about paying those prices.
As for the “decisive” actions he claims to have taken two months ago, that he said “pretty much stabilized” prices, Trump still hasn’t explained what in the world he was talking about, or why those undefined moves failed so badly.