‘Trump is an idiot’: Californians angry over soaring gas prices

“I’m angry about the price, but more angry about why it’s so high,” the 28-year-old told AFP.

This week, U.S. oil prices climbed to their highest levels since early 2022, when Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine triggered a spike in global oil costs.

On February 28, Israel and the United States began bombing Iran, and hostilities in the Middle East reduced supplies, causing crude oil prices to soar.

president’s war Donald Trump Unpopular across the U.S., polls show a clear majority disapprove of a conflict they see as unclear objectives.

“This war is totally unnecessary. Just like when we invaded Iraqno weapons of mass destruction,” Thomas said.

“Trump is an idiot, that’s all.”

The Republican billionaire has insisted for weeks that attacking Iran is necessary to prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons, and has repeatedly promised a brief conflict.

However, despite the overwhelming power of the U.S. military, the Islamic Republic blocked U.S. military action. Strait of Hormuz —A global trade artery used to transport one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas.

Thomas worries the oil crunch will have a domino effect on other goods he buys, as rising transportation costs push up the price of everyday items like food and clothing.

“I hope the centrist voters who got Trump elected start to think about this and realize what he’s done to them,” he said of a president committed to lowering the cost of living for ordinary Americans.

Trump voter David Chavez was waiting among dozens of cars in line to get gas at Costco. Costco, a wholesale retailer whose prices tend to be slightly below average, said it’s not that simple.

“It’s not good; we don’t want to pay more for gas,” the photographer admitted as he prepared to fill up his minivan with a credit card.

However, “we don’t know everything that goes on behind the scenes. It’s too easy to blame all the problems on one person.”

He accused oil majors of taking advantage of the current climate to artificially inflate prices, noting that California’s stricter environmental regulations have increased costs for motorists in the large state.

Still, he acknowledged his disappointment in Trump but said no one is perfect.

“Trump’s way of handling things is better,” he said.

On the same gas line, Flo, 73, who declined to give her full name, said she no longer knew what or who to believe about why oil prices were rising.

What she is sure of is that the increase in fuel costs has made her life more difficult.

“With gas prices so high, I’m going to the food bank now more than ever,” the retiree told AFP.

“I’ve also had to cut down on the amount of time I drive.”

Between a pension and part-time work, she earns about $3,000 a month – almost half of which is eaten up by rent.

“Life is already hard,” she sighs. “But it’s harder now.”