Trump says he wants to pause the federal gas tax to lower prices at the pump

• Trump says he backs suspending the federal gas tax as fuel prices climb during the war with Iran.
• Federal taxes add 18.4 cents per gallon to regular gas in the US.
• The average gas price in the US has spiked from $2.98 before escalations in Iran to $4.52 a gallon on Monday.

President Donald Trump said Monday that he supports suspending the federal gas tax as fuel prices surge during the war with Iran.

Speaking during a meeting with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump pledged support for planned legislation by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri to suspend the federal levy on gasoline and diesel fuel temporarily.

I’m introducing legislation today to suspend the gas tax https://t.co/hVHRhUVPgC

— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) May 11, 2026

Asked how long he would want the gas tax suspended, Trump said: "Until it's appropriate."

The federal government collects an 18.4-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline and a 24.4-cent-per-gallon tax on diesel fuel.

After saying he supported the temporary pause, Trump repeated his claim that gas prices will fall once the US and Iran reach a peace deal.

"Now, when this ends, you're going to see it drop like a rock," Trump said.

Gas prices have steadily climbed since the US entered the war with Iran at the end of February. The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline reached $4.52 on Monday, according to AAA. That's up from $2.98 a gallon on average on February 27, the day before the US started its bombing campaign.

Earlier Monday, Trump reiterated his support for suspending the tax during a phone interview with CBS News.

"I think it's a great idea," he said. "Yup, we're going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we'll let it phase back in."

Any suspension of the federal gas tax would require congressional approval. The White House declined to elaborate on how Trump could implement the policy if the legislation doesn't pass.