Trump's diesel idea could unleash a problem Americans never saw coming

The Trump administration has dropped a plan to ban diesel exports after economists warned it could raise consumer costs instead of easing them. Trump raised the possibility while talking with reporters at this week's United Nations General Assembly gathering in New York, saying he had pushed aides to keep more diesel supply inside the country: "I've said let's not send out the diesel. We make a lot of diesel." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said officials were weighing whether the refining industry could handle a full or partial ban, but a White House official later told Fox News Digital the export restriction was off the table, stressing that Trump wants pump prices to fall and continues reviewing other options.

Fuel costs have turned into an unwelcome election-year issue for the administration as fighting in Iran approaches its eighth month and continues to disrupt oil shipping routes. According to federal energy data, diesel averaged $6.53 per gallon nationally during the week of September 21, 2026, versus $3.75 for the same week a year earlier.

Joe Brusuelas, chief economist for RSM US LLP, said an export ban might have eased prices briefly but would ultimately have pushed up transportation costs and grocery bills. Diesel fuels far more than passenger cars — it also keeps freight trains, farm equipment, heavy machinery and trucking running, so higher costs ripple through trucking firms, farmers and other businesses and can eventually raise prices on groceries, deliveries, household goods and new homes.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →