Critics push back on Newsom’s extreme climate policies following rising gas prices under Trump

Newsom Blames Trump for High Gas Prices in California

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, is attributing rising gas prices in Iran to President Donald Trump’s actions, while critics are lambasting his climate change policies amidst California’s soaring gas prices, which exceed the national average.

On Tuesday, Newsom, seen as a leading candidate for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, expressed his views on X, claiming, “Americans will pay $1.5 billion more in gas this week alone because of Donald Trump’s war with Iran.” He asserted that California would utilize its resources to combat price gouging and mitigate the effects of what he labeled Trump’s recklessness.

In response, Republican candidate Steve Hilton criticized Newsom, pointing out that “California’s gas taxes and fees are the highest in the nation.”

“Gavin Newsom is trying to shift the blame,” Hilton remarked, arguing that it is incorrect to associate California’s high gas prices solely with Trump. He mentioned that prices have spiked from $5.49 to $6 in California while most states average around $3.

Hilton attributed the steep prices to California’s significant gas tax, which sits around 70 cents per gallon, the highest in the U.S. According to recent reports, California’s average gas price is approximately $5.33 per gallon, significantly higher than the next closest states, Washington and Hawaii, which average $4.72 and $4.69, respectively. The national average is about $3.57.

In a 2025 opinion piece, Hilton argued that the state’s rising gas prices are a consequence of years of Democratic governance, with leaders like Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris pushing for energy policies that harm fossil fuel sources.

Hilton’s sentiments were echoed by Roxanne Hoge, chairwoman of the Los Angeles County Republican Party, who described Newsom’s remarks as a “textbook case of projection,” stating, “For reasons unrelated to President Trump, people in California see gas prices being higher than in the rest of the country.” She argued that Trump’s policies had not resulted in the infrastructure improvements that were promised.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, too, weighed in, saying, “California is destroying the economy,” criticizing Newsom for shutting down refineries while pointing out that over 6,000 drilling permits have been granted.

Concerns are also being raised by Chevron President Andy Walz, who warned that recent cap-and-invest amendments proposed by the California Air Resources Board could lead to devastating impacts on the state’s remaining refineries, endangering jobs and raising gas prices further.

The California Air Resources Board is aiming to drastically reduce pollution by tightening permit standards, potentially leading to significant job losses and higher fuel prices. This proposal has faced pushback from industry leaders, who claim it could destabilize California’s energy market and threaten national security.

Tim Stewart, representing the American Oil and Gas Association, has stated that California’s energy issues could ripple into neighboring states, warning that failing to address these policies could have widespread consequences.

“The gross mismanagement of California’s energy production is becoming a national security issue that now affects everyone,” Stewart remarked, highlighting the impact on various sectors, including agriculture and manufacturing.