BACKFIRE: Newsom’s Gas Price Scam Unravels Publicly

Governor Gavin Newsom’s attempt to blame President Trump for California’s sky-high gas prices backfired spectacularly as critics armed themselves with receipts showing his own state policies are the real culprit behind Californians paying over five dollars per gallon at the pump.

Story Snapshot

Newsom blamed Trump’s Iran conflict for gas price spikes while California’s prices remain highest in nation at $5.29 per gallon
Chevron warned Newsom’s carbon regulations could kill 500,000+ jobs and spike prices another dollar per gallon
Critics highlighted California’s nation-leading gas taxes and refinery-killing environmental rules as the true cause of pain at the pump
Trump administration approved over 6,000 drilling permits while Newsom’s policies shut down refineries and restrict production

Newsom’s Blame Game Falls Flat

Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X claiming Trump’s “war with Iran” would cost Americans $1.5 billion more at the pump in one week, while crediting California’s oversight laws for mitigating damage. The March 12 statement represented another attempt by the likely 2028 Democratic presidential contender to position himself as Trump’s chief antagonist. However, the governor’s narrative crumbled when confronted with hard facts about California’s unique gas price crisis, where residents pay roughly $5.29 per gallon compared to significantly lower national averages driven by factors entirely within state control.

California’s Self-Inflicted Energy Crisis

California drivers suffer under the nation’s highest gas taxes and fees, a reality Newsom conveniently ignored while pointing fingers at Washington. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton noted these state-imposed costs, while Interior Secretary Doug Burgum highlighted the Trump administration’s approval of over 6,000 drilling permits aimed at lowering prices nationwide. California’s mandates for costly low-carbon reformulated gasoline and ongoing refinery closures tied to aggressive climate goals further squeeze supply. The state’s 90 percent carbon reduction target by 2045, enforced through the California Air Resources Board, prioritizes environmental ideology over the wallets of working families struggling with inflation.

Industry Sounds Alarm on Refinery Extinction

Chevron President Andy Walz delivered a stark warning to Newsom in a letter obtained by the California Globe, calling CARB’s proposed amendments to pull 118.3 million pollution allowances between 2027 and 2030 a potential “death knell” for California refineries. The energy executive predicted catastrophic consequences including over 500,000 job losses, national security risks from increased foreign oil dependence, and price increases exceeding one dollar per gallon. U.S. Oil and Gas Association spokesperson Tim Stewart warned that California’s “energy malaise” now threatens to spread across western states, impacting agriculture, manufacturing, and every energy-dependent sector of the economy. This undermines American energy independence and working-class prosperity, core conservative priorities.

The Real Record on Energy Policy

While Newsom touted state laws SBX1-2 and ABX2-1 for allegedly saving Californians billions, the governor’s claims of 20-cent price reductions in 2024 compared to 2023 ring hollow when residents still face the nation’s most punishing costs at over five dollars per gallon. The Trump administration’s “American Energy Dominance” agenda through expanded drilling stands in stark contrast to California’s refinery restrictions and regulatory stranglehold on domestic production. Newsom’s recent signing of SB 237 to boost Kern County oil production appears as political cover rather than genuine relief, issuing limited permits while CARB advances policies threatening to eliminate refining capacity altogether. California’s dependence on imported refined fuel makes residents vulnerable to global shocks, exposing the folly of chasing unrealistic green energy mandates at the expense of energy security and affordability for hardworking Americans.

Political Theater Versus Energy Reality

Newsom’s gas price deflection represents his latest salvo in ongoing battles with Trump, including California’s February lawsuit over terminated federal energy funds and a March clean energy deal with the United Kingdom that bypassed federal authority. These confrontations reveal Newsom’s strategy to build national profile for 2028 by portraying Trump as reckless while defending California’s failed policies. The receipts tell a different story: state-imposed taxes, refinery shutdowns driven by extreme environmental regulations, and carbon cap schemes that industry experts warn will devastate jobs and spike prices. Californians deserve leaders who prioritize affordable energy and economic prosperity over virtue-signaling climate activism that enriches special interests while punishing everyday families.