As gasoline prices continue to climb sharply in the United States following the outbreak of war with Iran, President Donald Trump has expressed support for temporarily suspending the federal gas tax.
Speaking to [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) on Monday, Trump said the federal gas tax should be paused “for a specific period of time,” adding that it could be reinstated once fuel prices begin to stabilize.
Currently, the federal government imposes a tax of 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel. Analysts say removing the tax could lower average fuel costs by about 4 percent. However, any such move would require approval from the United States Congress.
Before the U.S. bombing campaign in Iran, the average price of gasoline was just under $3 per gallon. Since then, prices have surged by more than 50 percent, reaching $4.52 per gallon.
The sharp increase has been largely attributed to disruptions in oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil supply passes.
A recent survey found that 80 percent of Americans say rising fuel prices are putting significant pressure on their household budgets. Meanwhile, 63 percent blame Trump for the worsening situation — including nearly one-third of Republican voters.
