2026-07-24 · contested story
US gas prices back up to an average of $4 a gallon again as the US and Iran launch attacks
US gas prices have surged back to an average of $4 per gallon as the Trump administration's war with Iran intensifies, with the conflict now entering its fifth month and costs mounting to at least $37.5 billion. The price spike comes as the Pentagon faces critical budget shortfalls, the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed to commercial shipping, and American casualties continue to rise—18 service members killed and over 100 injured since late February.
Left-leaning outlets emphasize the administration's lack of strategy and transparency, highlighting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's contradictory statements about Iran's military being "destroyed" while requesting $87 billion more in funding. Center sources focus on the economic impacts and logistical challenges, noting the Pentagon is "running out of money" and weapons stockpiles are critically depleted. Right-leaning sources stress national security imperatives over economic concerns, with Trump declaring "if they rise, they rise" about gas prices, while defending the war as necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons despite the ceasefire's collapse and unclear endgame.
How each side frames it
left
"On day 14 of this conflict, Mr. Secretary, day 14, nearly five months ago, you stated that Iran's military had been, 'destroyed,' and 'made combat-ineffective.' That was on day 14 of the war. Was that an accurate statement?"
"You will not answer whether your statement made on the 14th day of the war that Iran's military had been quote destroyed and made combat ineffective was a truthful statement to the American people as you sit here and ask for tens of billions (of dollars) more."
"Pete Hegseth's Pentagon isn't just running out of weapons as the war on Iran intensifies—it's also running out of money."
"Secretary Hegseth, you're requesting billions of dollars in supplemental funding for a war that you said would last for weeks and that the president has no plan or ability to end. (Voters) have seen their grocery and gas bills rise, and this unpopular and unauthorized war abroad is a higher priority to this administration than their ability to feed their families and provide healthcare to their loved ones who are sick."
"It's absurd that the Pentagon is running out of money when its budget for this year was $1 trillion, with the Trump administration already requesting $1.5 trillion for 2027—a record-setting amount. They're stacking up bills with your taxpayer dollars to go deeper into a war that the vast majority of the country does not support."
center
"The administration is asking for a huge windfall in financing for a war it has always struggled to explain, can't control and for which it lacks metrics of success and a way out."
"The national average cost of gas has risen 27 cents since last week to $3.25 per gallon, according to AAA, a U.S. travel organization that tracks fuel prices. The current national average is 15 cents higher than a year ago."
"Without these funds, we face critical shortfalls that threaten our ability to… pay our service members, rapidly replenish equipment and munitions, and sustain vital operations without disruption"
"Despite Trump's public efforts to play down the price rises, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Energy Secretary Chris Wright have both engaged with oil CEOs to gauge possible options on combating rising energy prices, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday."
"Trump has outlined a four-to-five-week timeline for the military campaign against Iran, but political and military experts have questioned it, noting that the U.S. government has yet to articulate its end goal while the conflict continues to spread to the region and beyond."
right
"I don't have any concern about it. They'll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit."
"We had U.S. boats that surrendered to Iranian ships under the Biden administration"
"The U.S. military planned to destroy one piece of Iran's critical infrastructure every time the regime strikes at a ship traversing the Strait of Hormuz"
"The problem we're having right now is they're not serious about talks. If they're serious, we're serious. If they're not, then we will do what is necessary to protect our interests and also the interests of our allies."
"Senate Democrats blocked an NDAA last Tuesday on a party-line vote, complaining that they had been left in the dark by the Trump administration on the Iran War."
What each side left out
The right left out — covered by the CNN & The Daily Beast & The Boston Globe
- Specific casualty figures for US troops (18 killed, 100+ injured)
- Hegseth's contradictory statements about Iran's military being 'destroyed' on day 14
The left left out — covered by the NTD & New York Post
- State Secretary Rubio's explanation that Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz and lacks legal authority
- Administration's openness to negotiations if Iran demonstrates seriousness
The right left out — covered by the Reuters & The Telegraph
- Pentagon analysis showing only one month of critical weapons stockpiles remaining
- White House Chief of Staff Wiles warning internally that failure to address gas prices would be 'catastrophic' for midterm elections
The left left out — covered by the The Boston Globe & The Daily Beast
- Trump's comparison of 18 US deaths to casualty figures in Vietnam (58,000), Iraq and Afghanistan (low thousands)
- Defense Secretary's statement that Iran's navy was 'completely sunk' and air force 'completely combat-ineffective'
The center left out — covered by the The Boston Globe & The Telegraph
- Public polling data showing majority opposition to the war
- Specific details about protesters interrupting Hegseth's testimony
What's actually true?
[verified] The cost of the Iran war has reached $37.5 billion
[verified] 18 US service members have been killed in the Iran conflict
[verified] 100 American personnel have been injured since early July
[contested] Gas prices have risen to an average of $4 per gallon
[verified] The national average cost of gas has risen to $3.25 per gallon
[verified] Average gasoline prices have jumped nearly 29% from a year ago
[verified] The Pentagon is requesting $67 billion in emergency funding for the war
[verified] The Pentagon's budget for this year was $1 trillion
The narrative clash
Iran's military capabilities after initial strikes
Left: On day 14 of this conflict, Mr. Secretary, day 14, nearly five months ago, you stated that Iran's military had been, 'destroyed,' and 'made combat-ineffective.' That was on day 14 of the war.
Right: They had 160 naval vessels in their bluewater Navy, and they're gone. Their air force is completely combat-ineffective, and they don't have a defense industrial base
War timeline and duration
Left: you're requesting billions of dollars in supplemental funding for a war that you said would last for weeks
Right: Trump has outlined a four-to-five-week timeline for the military campaign against Iran
Gas price impact
Left: The national average cost of gas has risen 27 cents since last week to $3.25 per gallon
Right: Trump said the costs 'haven't risen very much.'
War objectives achieved
Left: Three weeks later you declared victory. That was now nearly four months ago. Three weeks after you had already said Iran's military was destroyed and combat-ineffective, you said, 'Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory.'
Right: The administration is asking for a huge windfall in financing for a war it has always struggled to explain, can't control and for which it lacks metrics of success and a way out.
13 sources analyzed
The Boston Globe The New Republic CNN mb.ntd.com The Washington Post New York Post wng.org National News Desk Fox News The Daily Beast AP The Telegraph Reuters