Trump adviser links high gas prices to refining bottlenecks

High gas prices and refining constraints

At an Axios House briefing, Trump energy adviser Jarrod Agen warned that high gas prices remain “the top issue the president watches,” tying the surge to a shortfall in global refining capacity.

“We have crude flowing, but the bottleneck is refining,” Agen told host Amy Harder.

National averages hit ↑ $4.48 per gallon, up from $3.18 a year earlier, according to AAA. Agen blamed reduced output in Russia (down ↓ 30%) and China, while the Strait of Hormuz remains volatile.The administration is eyeing the Defense Production Act and new infrastructure projects to boost domestic throughput. Analysts cite a Reuters report linking the Iran conflict to a $100 billion consumer bill, compounding the political calculus ahead of the midterms. A Bloomberg analysis notes that diesel topped $6 per gallon, stoking inflation fears.pandemic‑era supply shocks still echo in today’s market dynamics.

Words by: Eleanor Cross

Chief Washington Correspondent