A new warning from the Trump administration is shaking drivers already hit by painful fuel costs: Americans may have to wait until 2027 before seeing gasoline drop back under $3 a gallon, as prices hover near $4 nationwide and inflation pressure continues to build.

The admission from Energy Secretary Chris Wright, made during a Sunday television interview, has fueled fresh political backlash and deepened concerns about the future of energy affordability in the United States.

Energy Secretary Uncertain as Gas Prices Stay High

Chris Wright, the Trump administration’s energy secretary, acknowledged Sunday that Americans could be facing years of elevated gas prices before relief arrives.

Asked by Jake Tapper, the CNN State of the Union host, when he thought “it’s realistic for Americans to expect the gas will go back to under $3 a gallon”, Wright replied: “I don’t know. That could happen later this year. That might not happen until next year.”

Wright then maintained, without elaborating that “prices have likely peaked and they will start going down”. He said a conclusion to the war in Iran that the US started alongside Israel in late February would see energy prices “go down”.

Pressed further by Tapper on whether it might take until 2027 for gasoline to fall below $3 a gallon, Wright did not directly challenge the timeline.

Gas Price Surge Fuels Economic Pressure

US gasoline prices have swung sharply in recent months, climbing from an average of $2.98 a gallon in the days before the Iran conflict to roughly $3.98 a gallon by late March.

By April, prices had stabilized at more than $4 a gallon nationwide, adding pressure to household budgets already strained by inflation and higher living costs.

Wright attempted to frame the long-term outlook more positively, saying: “Under $3 a gallon is pretty tremendous in an inflation-adjusted terms. We had that in the Trump administration, but we hadn’t seen that in inflation-adjusted terms for quite a long time. We will get back there, for sure.”

Political Promises Clash With Economic Reality

The issue of gas prices has become a central political flashpoint. Donald Trump campaigned heavily on lowering fuel costs during his successful 2024 presidential run, repeatedly promising major relief at the pump.

“Energy is going to bring us back,” he said in a September 2024 campaign speech. “That means we’re going down and getting gasoline below $2 a gallon, bring down the price of everything from electricity rates to groceries, air fares, and housing costs.”

Those promises now face growing scrutiny as prices remain elevated and geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt global oil flows.

Iran Conflict and Global Supply Shock Drive Prices Higher

Energy markets have been rattled by escalating tensions following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. In response, Iran twice closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global oil shipments.

The disruption triggered a spike in crude prices and intensified fears of broader supply shortages. The Trump administration responded with a naval blockade of Iranian ships, further escalating the conflict.

On Sunday, US forces fired on and then seized an Iran-flagged container ship that attempted to breach the blockade, underscoring the volatility driving energy markets.

Public Frustration Grows as Inflation Concerns Rise

A recent NBC poll of more than 32,000 adults found deep public dissatisfaction with the administration’s handling of both the conflict and the economy. The survey estimated that 67% and 68% of respondents “somewhat” or “strongly” disapproved of the way Trump was handling the war in Iran as well as “inflation and the cost of living” domestically.

Shifting Messages From the Energy Secretary

Wright’s latest comments mark a noticeable shift from earlier optimism. In a 15 March appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, he said there was “a very good chance that’ll be true” when asked whether gas could fall below $3 by summer.

Just days earlier, on 8 March, he downplayed the duration of the price spike, telling Tapper: “In the worst case, this is a weeks – this is not a months thing.”

Now, with prices still elevated and geopolitical risks unresolved, the timeline for relief appears increasingly uncertain, leaving American drivers facing continued pressure at the pump.