Trump Suddenly Considers Diesel Export Ban Despite Cabinet Warnings

Donald Trump is now very seriously considering a diesel export ban even though his top cabinet members said for months that such a move was completely off the table. This sudden shift comes as gas prices climb to record highs and MAGA executives begin to revolt. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters last week that banning exports 'definitely doesn't work'. As the President's chief energy official in charge of production and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, he warned that a ban would push gasoline and jet fuel prices higher. Back in May, Wright declared the idea 'absolutely' ruled out. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum echoed this sentiment, calling export curbs 'bad on all accounts'.

Yet when Trump faced questions during a golf tournament in Illinois last Sunday, his stance changed entirely. He admitted the administration is looking at the ban very seriously and acknowledged it could cause prices to rise for cars. That reality does not sit well with everyone. A chorus of Republican lawmakers has spoken in unison against this potential move, warning that it would be a mistake capable of backfiring badly. Even some MAGA donors from the oil industry have expressed anger, noting that restricting exports would only make an already terrible situation worse.

The spike in costs is stark. US diesel prices have hit record levels around $6.50 per gallon. That represents a jump of nearly three dollars compared to this time last year when a gallon cost just $3.69, according to the American Automobile Association. The national average price for regular gas has also climbed roughly 40 cents to reach $4.48 from $4.09 a month ago. Strikes on oil refining sites across the Middle East stemming from the Iran war have driven these numbers up in the last month. Attacks on energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine added further pressure. A US blockade on Iran's energy sector has restricted global supply, causing prices to rise sharply over the past seven months.

This gambit puts the President in a precarious position as Republicans face increasingly dismal odds of keeping control of Congress after this November's midterm elections. Prediction market Kalshi shows Democrats have a 92 percent chance of winning the House and a 62 percent chance of taking the Senate. These are all-time highs for the party, suggesting bettors see a blue wave forming. The Iran war, gas prices, affordability concerns, and more bog down Trump and the GOP while they struggle to maintain power.

Texas Senator John Cornyn told Semafor last week that the ban is 'a gimmick' that 'won't work'. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, also a Texan, said any implemented ban would be a 'mistake'. Opponents fear that restricting exports will put dangerous pressure on US reserves. The administration scrambles to address these sky-high prices while walking a tightrope between domestic relief and global market stability.

President Donald Trump stands before workers at the Cameron LNG Export Facility in Hackberry, Louisiana, back on May 14, 2019. Now Louisiana Republican lawmakers are sounding off loud and clear against a diesel export ban that is currently under consideration. One executive told NBC News the move would cause massive harm to refining operations. He explained simply: we refine more diesel than we consume here in America. A ban would end up forcing refiners to cut back production immediately. That scenario would backfire badly on everyone involved.

Both Louisiana Senators, John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy, have publicly joined the fight against any potential export restrictions. Senator Kennedy spoke to reporters last week with blunt honesty. He said everything he has read tells him the policy won't do any good at all. Since the US produces more diesel than the country uses domestically, opponents argue the tanks would fill up fast. Once those storage facilities hit capacity, producers might be forced to pump less oil right when supply is needed most.

Advocates for keeping fuel stateside claim this approach could actually ease costs for everyday consumers. Farmers and truckers rely heavily on gas to produce food and transport it across the nation. Given the steep rise in fuel prices recently, experts warn those higher costs will inevitably pass down to shoppers at grocery stores or department chains. Mike Sommers, President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, issued a stark statement about the situation. He noted Americans are hurting from rising diesel costs driven by an unprecedented disruption to global refining capacity. His message was clear: The answer is more supply and more flexibility, not new restrictions that risk making a difficult situation worse.

Trump donor and oil executive Dan Eberhart weighed in with his own perspective for the Wall Street Journal. He stated he thinks we've invested too much in developing customers overseas, and this specific move sends the wrong signal to the market. A spokesperson for the Department of Energy told the Daily Mail that the Trump administration, including Secretary Wright, continues working closely together while they consider a variety of options. Their goal is to help lower energy costs for the American people. The spokesperson added that ultimately President Trump will make the final decisions on these matters. The White House was contacted for comment regarding the ongoing debate.