Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) on Wednesday slammed President Donald Trump‘s Energy Secretary Chris Wright over rising gas prices affecting Americans amid the war with Iran.
Newsom Calls Chris Wright ‘Big Oil Shill’
In a post on X, Newsom’s official Press Office handle delivered sharp criticism of Wright, who was asked why the U.S. was grappling with high fuel costs despite domestic production capabilities. Wright responded by saying that oil is “a global market,” while also saying that prices in the U.S. were lower compared to Europe and Asia.
“After falsely railing for weeks that gas prices will go down if California just drills more in the ocean,” the Press Office’s post said, “Big Oil Shill Wright accidentally admitted the truth: “It’s a global market”,” the post added.
The post then urged Wright to “talk to his boss” about stabilizing gas prices by ending the Iran war. “We hear that could bring prices down!” the post said.
Sable Offshore Pipeline
The Newsom administration had earlier slammed Trump’s decision to reopen the Sable Offshore Corp (NYSE:SOC) pipeline, which, according to the Governor, would put communities as well as California’s $51 billion coastal economy at risk.
The pipeline will reportedly supply oil to Chevron. Notably, it was shut down after a 2015 oil spill from the pipeline caused significant damage.
California Gas Prices Surge
On Tuesday, the Newsom administration defended against rising gas prices in California as reports emerged of the state increasing the excise tax on a gallon of gas to $0.634.
The administration said that the rise in taxes was already voted on by residents of the state in 2018, before Newsom took office and that the tax rise was to adjust for inflation.
Meanwhile, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, alongside AGs of six other states, sued the Trump administration for a deal with TotalEnergies SE (NYSE:TTE) that saw the company abandon clean energy projects in favor of investments in oil and gas.
Gas Prices In The US
Gas prices further fell as the national average price for a gallon on Wednesday was $4.261, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). Prices in California also fell below the $6/gallon mark following weeks of high costs, with the average price in the state at $5.993/gallon on Wednesday.
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