Trump orders investigation into oil companies over high gasoline prices in U.S.

President Donald Trump has launched an investigation into major oil corporations, asserting that gasoline prices at the pump are not decreasing in line with the falling cost of crude oil. Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, that these companies are "ripping off" customers by maintaining high prices despite significant drops in the price of oil they pay.

This move comes as the U.S. president faces domestic criticism over the economic impact of the Middle East conflict and rising inflation, a challenging backdrop for the upcoming November legislative elections. The price of gasoline is a politically sensitive issue in the United States, where private transportation heavily relies on fossil fuels for daily mobility. Public opinion is critical of taxpayer investments in the war while citizens bear the brunt of inflation costs.

The oil price crisis was exacerbated after Iran blocked maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a direct response to military actions by the United States and Israel. While Trump has repeatedly predicted a sharp decrease in fuel prices after hostilities cease, economists generally disagree, estimating that the market will take months to stabilize at pre-war levels. Washington and Tehran have reached an initial agreement to resume tanker traffic in the region, but other critical issues, such as Iran's nuclear program, remain unresolved.