President Donald Trump said Monday that refinery disruptions, rather than shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, were driving higher U.S. gasoline prices, and he signed an order at a Nebraska campaign rally waiving an off-road rule for tax-exempt red-dyed diesel.
Trump said Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries and closures in Democratic-led states, including California, were contributing to prices. He said large volumes of oil were moving through the Strait of Hormuz. Al Jazeera reported that daily exports through the strait had fallen 97% since the war began. Ukraine says its strikes have disabled 51% of Russia's refining capacity, a claim PBS reported could not be independently verified.
The order concerns red-dyed diesel used mainly by farm and construction vehicles, according to the Washington Examiner. With the November 3 midterm elections approaching, Axios reported that states are also pursuing fuel-tax holidays and other measures.