Americans blame Trump for rising gas prices, new poll finds

A new survey reveals deep public frustration over rising fuel costs, with most Americans holding President Donald Trump responsible. The Navigator Research poll, published Wednesday, found that 87% of Americans believe gas prices are increasing, including 60% who say they are going up “a lot.” The concern cuts across party lines: 91% of Democrats, 90% of independents, and even 81% of Republicans reported higher costs at the pump.

Disapproval spans party lines

Overall, 65% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of gas prices, compared to just 28% who approve—a net negative of 37 points. Among independents, disapproval is even sharper at 72% versus 15% approval. While Republicans remain more supportive overall, the survey points to internal divisions: non-MAGA Republicans are more likely to disapprove than approve, and Republican women show weaker support than Republican men.

Iran war seen as major factor

The survey identifies the US-Israeli war with Iran as a central factor in rising fuel costs, with 71% of respondents citing the conflict as a driver of higher gas prices—more than those who blamed oil companies or political leaders alone. When asked to assign responsibility, 60% said Trump and Republicans in Congress were more to blame than Democrats (16%). The gap widens when the war is explicitly mentioned as a cause. On which party is better equipped to handle gas prices, Americans are narrowly divided: 35% trust Democrats more, 31% favor Trump and Republicans, and more than a quarter trust neither. For Türkiye, which has also seen fuel prices surge due to the same conflict, the poll underscores how wars of choice eventually weigh on domestic pocketbooks—a lesson Ankara has long emphasized in its calls for diplomacy.