Trump Voters Blame Kamala Harris for Soaring Gas Prices

Some voters who supported President Donald Trump in the 2024 election are convinced that gas prices would have been cheaper if former Vice President Kamala Harris had won. This revelation comes from a recent poll that underscores the growing economic frustrations as the 2026 midterm elections approach.

The poll indicates that a significant portion of Trump voters, 42 percent, believe gas prices have risen more than they would have under a Democratic administration. Only 18 percent think prices would have increased more under a Democrat. A mere 34 percent of Trump’s supporters believe gas prices would have risen equally under a Democratic president.

Global oil supply has been severely impacted by the ongoing Iran war, leading to skyrocketing prices at the pump. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil passage, have intensified since U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran began in February.

Despite a temporary drop in prices during a ceasefire, renewed hostilities have caused prices to surge once again. High gas prices pose a political threat to Trump, who has made combating inflation a key part of his 2024 campaign. He has consistently criticized former President Joe Biden over rising costs following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Frustration with the economy was a driving force behind Trump's return to the Oval Office. However, nearly two years later, polls show widespread dissatisfaction with economic conditions and disapproval of the president's management of the situation.

Democrats are leveraging opposition to the war and its effects on gas prices as central themes for the midterms, aiming to regain control of Congress.

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers stated that Trump is committed to achieving American energy dominance and reducing costs for families. Rogers claimed that as U.S. military efforts degrade Iran's capacity to disrupt oil transport, prices will return to pre-conflict levels.

The poll also revealed that 63 percent of respondents attribute rising gas prices to the Iran war. Other factors cited include Trump's tariffs (40 percent), his poor economic management (38 percent), supply chain disruptions (23 percent), and insufficient domestic oil production (21 percent).

This online poll, conducted by Politico and Public First, surveyed 2,061 adults from July 13-15, 2026, with the survey starting on July 12.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai previously noted that Trump has always acknowledged short-term disruptions due to Operation Epic Fury and emphasized ongoing efforts to mitigate these issues.

The Iran war commenced on February 28, paused briefly around April 7-8, and resumed hostilities earlier in July.

Other polls reflect similar sentiments among Americans regarding economic dissatisfaction. A survey from another outlet found only 33 percent approval for Trump's handling of the economy, marking a low point in their polling history.

Confidence in negotiations to end the war and lower gas prices is lacking; only 39 percent express optimism, while 59 percent do not believe negotiations will yield results.

A CBS News/YouGov poll indicated that 23 percent of Americans view rising gas prices as a financial hardship, with an additional 30 percent finding it difficult. Only 7 percent reported no impact on their finances from rising gas costs.

In terms of overall economic sentiment, just 7 percent consider the economy "very good," while 24 percent deem it "fairly good." Conversely, 33 percent label it "fairly bad," and 30 percent describe it as "very bad."

This survey included 2,519 adults from June 17-19, 2026, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.

Trump remarked that Americans desire lower gasoline prices but are not opposed to the war itself.

Polling data shows that 68 percent of Americans do not believe the war is justified, while another poll indicates that 78 percent want an immediate end to hostilities.

As of Wednesday, nationwide gas prices averaged $4.060 per gallon, up from $4.019 on Tuesday and $3.890 one week prior. A month ago, prices were at $3.929 per gallon and $3.145 one year ago.

This represents a staggering 29 percent increase in gas prices compared to one year ago.

California reported the highest average gas price at $5.545 per gallon, while Mississippi had the lowest at $3.622 per gallon.

GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan warned that prices could continue to rise in the coming weeks due to escalating crude oil costs amid threats to Saudi oil routes.

The Iran war has significantly strained global oil supplies, with disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz leading to price spikes. This strait is crucial for oil transport and liquefied natural gas trade, affecting global energy markets.