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BumRushDaShow

(172,368 posts)
Mon May 11, 2026, 12:38 PM May 11

Trump says he aims to suspend gas tax "for a period of time"

Source: CBS News

Updated on: May 11, 2026 / 12:20 PM EDT / CBS News


Washington — President Trump said in a phone interview with CBS News Monday morning that he aims to suspend the federal gas tax "for a period of time.". "I think it's a great idea," the president 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."

Gas prices have soared over 50% since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28, hitting a high of over $4.52 on Sunday, according to AAA. Analysts say the prices are likely to remain high with Iran blocking access to the Strait of Hormuz. But suspending the excise taxes — 18.4 cents per gallon on gas and 24.4 cents a gallon on diesel — requires an act of Congress, and pausing it would cost the federal government about a half billion dollars a week.

Following Cordes' interview, Reublican Sen. Josh Hawley said Monday that he would introduce legislation to suspend the federal gas tax. Several Democratic lawmakers had already introduced legislation to either pause or lower it. Revenue raised by the federal gas tax goes toward the Highway Trust Fund to construct and repair roadways, and it also pays for other transit projects.

In the interview, Mr. Trump rejected the idea of a bailout for U.S. air carriers as they contend with jet fuel costs that have more than doubled since the start of the war with Iran. A bailout proposal "hasn't really been presented," he said. "The airlines are doing not badly."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-interview-suspending-gas-tax-iran-war/



NOTE

But suspending the excise taxes — 18.4 cents per gallon on gas and 24.4 cents a gallon on diesel — requires an act of Congress, and pausing it would cost the federal government about a half billion dollars a week.
21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Trump says he aims to suspend gas tax "for a period of time" (Original Post) BumRushDaShow May 11 OP
$6.50 and higher per gallon. no_hypocrisy May 11 #1
The Fed fuel tax is 18 cents per gallon or reg fuel. Hell,that just gives oil companies Bengus81 May 11 #2
Not only that gab13by13 May 11 #3
I switched to battery operated electric for snow blower and mower after wrecking too many carburetors with blended gas JT45242 May 11 #6
Put one of those small,round type of fuel filter on small 22" mowers and you'll never have Bengus81 May 11 #8
Thanks for the correction no_hypocrisy May 11 #14
We could extend the use of solar and wind power. twodogsbarking May 11 #4
Pssst.. Orange jackass.. MuchBetterThanThis May 11 #5
Where is that money coming from? angrychair May 11 #7
He wants to pull this fuel tax stunt to blame for the trillions of debt he's racked up Bengus81 May 11 #9
We may lose a bridge here or there, but frequent fliers should be unaffected bluedigger May 11 #10
You have to take a highway to the airport Prairie Gates May 11 #20
Who needs good roads? Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 11 #11
sounds like he is doing something when he won't really do a thing rurallib May 11 #12
How about ending the war you started and stop stealing our fucking money. chowder66 May 11 #13
Like always the oil companies will wait a few weeks jgmiller May 11 #15
So trump is going to rob Peter to pay Paul, republianmushroom May 11 #16
18 cents? Jughead May 11 #17
"He's" not going to do anything. louis-t May 11 #18
Suspending the gas excise tax will mean suspending the highway projects it funds Prairie Gates May 11 #19
Didn't think I'd see Platner agreeing with the Felon before Nov election. rogue emissary May 11 #21

no_hypocrisy

(55,396 posts)
1. $6.50 and higher per gallon.
Mon May 11, 2026, 12:47 PM
May 11

Cutting 50 cents doesn’t make gas affordable. Meanwhile, the unaddressed potholes from no gas tax will add a repair bill bill for new struts/shocks.

Bengus81

(10,378 posts)
2. The Fed fuel tax is 18 cents per gallon or reg fuel. Hell,that just gives oil companies
Mon May 11, 2026, 01:01 PM
May 11

the incentive to jack up prices another 18 cents. This has been discussed by various Pres but it won't work in the long run.

gab13by13

(32,791 posts)
3. Not only that
Mon May 11, 2026, 01:10 PM
May 11

Krasnov is talking about helping out Big Farma by allowing 15% ethanol in gasoline.

I guess I will be busy cleaning out the carburetors in my lawnmower and snowblower, either that or buy higher octane gas.

JT45242

(4,140 posts)
6. I switched to battery operated electric for snow blower and mower after wrecking too many carburetors with blended gas
Mon May 11, 2026, 01:14 PM
May 11

Luckily, most of our electricity comes from wind where I live so it was a pretty green option.

Bengus81

(10,378 posts)
8. Put one of those small,round type of fuel filter on small 22" mowers and you'll never have
Mon May 11, 2026, 01:25 PM
May 11

a problem again. I've done that for 4-5 years now on my Toro personal pace and it runs fine. Just changed it out this year and you could see the dirt inside the filter that was stopped from going through.

twodogsbarking

(19,366 posts)
4. We could extend the use of solar and wind power.
Mon May 11, 2026, 01:12 PM
May 11

I had better take that back or the Jusice Dept will investigate me.

5. Pssst.. Orange jackass..
Mon May 11, 2026, 01:12 PM
May 11

If you didn’t follow NetanYahoos orders and start a war then you wouldn’t need a gas tax freeze, ya moron🤷🏾

Bengus81

(10,378 posts)
9. He wants to pull this fuel tax stunt to blame for the trillions of debt he's racked up
Mon May 11, 2026, 01:30 PM
May 11

on massive tax cuts to the filthy rich and Corporations since 2018 and his illegal War.

bluedigger

(17,450 posts)
10. We may lose a bridge here or there, but frequent fliers should be unaffected
Mon May 11, 2026, 01:31 PM
May 11

Thank you for your inattention to this matter.

chowder66

(12,516 posts)
13. How about ending the war you started and stop stealing our fucking money.
Mon May 11, 2026, 01:51 PM
May 11

States should impose a wealth tax for a "period of time".

jgmiller

(707 posts)
15. Like always the oil companies will wait a few weeks
Mon May 11, 2026, 02:08 PM
May 11

and then start bumping prices up to cover the $0.18 and then when oil goes down they will bake that in. Once again we will get fleeced and the national debt will go up some more.

republianmushroom

(22,736 posts)
16. So trump is going to rob Peter to pay Paul,
Mon May 11, 2026, 02:27 PM
May 11

that is all this boils down to. What are they going to rob to raise money for what the gas tax is used for ?

trumps illegal war biting him in the ass. How about end the ballroom ?

louis-t

(24,654 posts)
18. "He's" not going to do anything.
Mon May 11, 2026, 05:46 PM
May 11

The Congress will have to allow it. Hey Stinky, how about ending the ignorant war with Iran instead of running up more debt for someone else to pay?

Prairie Gates

(8,479 posts)
19. Suspending the gas excise tax will mean suspending the highway projects it funds
Mon May 11, 2026, 06:58 PM
May 11

Notably, many of these projects are the sole employers of white working class men in rural areas.

Projects are going to be canceled across the country, though probably not until next summer or the one after. Trump has fucked the MAGAs again, in other words. The consequences of their actions will have a long tail.

Trump's war jacks up gas prices, which causes a suspension of the federal excise tax, which will cause shortfalls in the federal highway funds, which will cause cancelation of the highway projects in rural areas that mostly employ young white working class men, who overwhelmingly, thus, voted enthusiastically for their own unemployment.

Tra la.

If this didn't also result in increased highway deaths as infrastructure crumbles, it would almost be bitterly funny. You live in a global economy, fellas, whether you like it or not.

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