President Donald Trump, during a West Coast tour promoting the Republican midterm agenda, addressed the surge in U.S. gas prices, which recently hit a national average of $4.09 per gallon. Instead of attributing the rise to the economic fallout from the war in Iran, Trump focused criticism on oil companies, particularly Chevron.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump cited an interview where Mike Wirth, Chairman and CEO of Chevron, explained the company's strong financial performance. Trump claimed that without the "genius, foresight, strength, and stability" of his administration, the oil industry and the country would be "dead." He highlighted Chevron's return to Venezuela as an example of growth and urged oil companies to lower retail prices immediately, stating, "They better cut the retail price, the consumer price. I'll say it loud and clear. I'm not happy about it."

Critics have called this reasoning "wildly twisted," noting that the oil industry is profiting compared to normal times and that Trump cannot simply order prices downward without considering broader economic factors.

The timing is politically significant, as Labor Day marks a critical point when gas prices influence voter sentiment. According to the Reason Roundup Newsletter, "That last summer trip determines how voters evaluate their cost of living."

Separately, two Republican lawmakers who had opposed Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general have expressed support after Blanche formally canceled a controversial $1.8 billion fund proposed under Trump's deal with the IRS for alleged victims of political prosecutions, as reported by The Washington Post.

Additionally, estimates from Perspective Data Science indicate that nearly 200 private colleges borrowed from restricted endowments in 2025, up from 131 in 2021.

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