United States President Donald Trump has called on fuel retailers across the country to slash petrol prices without delay, arguing that the drop in global crude oil prices should be reflected at filling stations.
In a statement released through his social media platform, Trump said motorists were paying more than necessary despite crude trading at about $68 per barrel, warning that retailers risk serious repercussions if they fail to respond.
He urged fuel marketers to move quickly and lower pump prices for American consumers, insisting that any attempt to keep prices artificially high would amount to price gouging, which he described as illegal.
Trump said retailers should work towards a pump price of about $2.50 per gallon, maintaining that Americans deserve relief as oil prices continue to decline.
The president also turned his attention to California, criticising the state’s fuel tax policy. He argued that the taxes imposed on petrol had become excessive and were placing an unfair burden on residents.
He claimed that if the current trend continues, taxes on fuel could soon exceed the value of the petrol itself, a development he said would not be accepted by either the federal government or Californians.
Trump accused California’s leadership of placing unnecessary financial pressure on motorists through what he described as excessive taxation, saying residents were bearing the cost of government policies that had made fuel significantly more expensive.