Trump supporters have blasted California Governor Gavin Newsom after he blamed sky-high gas prices on the president's war in Iran.
Since the US-Israeli attack was launched in the Middle East on February 28, Americans have watched their gas costs climb, and California has the highest fees.
Newsom claimed on X that US citizens will pay '$1.5 billion more at the gas pump just this week' because of the conflict.
'California will continue using the tools we've spent years developing to help fight price spikes and lessen the blow from Trump's recklessness,' he wrote.
In response, MAGA voices accused Newsom of trying to 'shift blame' and avoid taking responsibility for the price of gas in his state, pinning the responsibility instead on the Democrat Governor's expensive environment policies.
Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton said, regardless of a war, that California had 'the highest gas taxes and fees in America.'
'Gavin Newsom is trying to shift blame and he's blaming these insane gas prices in California, $5.49, $5.69, heading to $6, on the war in Iran,' Hilton said.
'It's not the war in Iran, because in the rest of the country, they don't have $5.49, they have $3 gas.'
Governor Gavin Newsom has blamed Trump's war in Iran for rising gas prices in California
Gas prices are shown above on March 10, 2026, in Walnut Creek, California, United States
Drivers post their painful fill-up totals as Iran war pushes gas prices higher
Hilton called for Newsom to suspend the state's gas tax in an X post on Wednesday.
'Gas prices are over $2.00 higher in California than the rest of the country. Sometimes MUCH higher than that,' he said.
'Obviously not because of 'Trump's war.' It's because of Newsom's policies.'
The state's tax on gasoline rose to 61.2 cents per gallon on July 1, 2025, per CFCA.
It now sits at approximately 70.9 cents, reported EIA. California has the highest gas tax of any state in the country and the highest average price.
Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum accused California's politicians of 'killing their economy.'
'While Newsom continues to close refineries & drive up gas prices for Californians, the Department of the Interior has approved 6,000+ drilling permits to advance the president's American Energy Dominance Agenda & lower gas prices nationwide!' he wrote on X.
California congressman Vince Fong called out Newsom for his 'failed policies,' claiming that President Trump is 'making America more energy secure.'
'This coming from the guy that has forced California's fuel production to the brink of collapse with his failed polices,' Fong wrote on social media.
'Energy companies are fleeing to other states. Pipelines are shutting down. Refining capacity is plummeting.
'By stifling local oil production, he has artificially increased gas prices and left California vulnerable to global demand and supply shocks.
'Meanwhile, Texas is building a new refinery and expanding energy infrastructure. Texas's average gas price is $3.25 while ours is $5.34...'
Despite Republican outrage over Newsom's claims, the entire country has seen gas prices soar in the two weeks since the president launched a joint attack on Iran.
Gas prices have rocketed to an average of $3.6 per gallon from $2.9 before the war began, as oil prices hit levels not seen since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
A spokesperson for Newsom's office told the Daily Mail that prices are up an average of 60 cents nationwide.
The price hike is affecting every state in the country, thanks to global market prices being influenced by the conflict in the Middle East.
But the chair of the LA County GOP, Roxanne Hoge, told Fox that Californians 'have seen the cost of gas be higher than the rest of the USA for reasons having nothing to do with President Trump.'
'He has driven supply down by banishing producers while not fixing infrastructure with gas tax money as promised,' she said.
'We all know that Gavin Newsom has moved on to campaigning for president in spite of his atrocious record at home.'