National Surveys

Americans Blame Trump for Rising Gas Prices

April 8, 2026
Maryann Cousens

This Navigator Research report includes new data on gas prices, including to what extent Americans believe gas prices have increased and perceptions of who’s to blame.

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Big Takeaways:

An overwhelming majority are feeling gas prices increase, and blame President Trump and the war in Iran.

President Trump’s approval on handling the cost of gas is underwater by 37 points, with clear fractures within the GOP.

While Americans blame Trump, Republicans in Congress, and the war in Iran for high gas prices, they don’t overwhelmingly trust Democrats more; many do not trust either party or are unsure.

Nearly Nine in Ten Say Gas Prices Are Increasing

87% of Americans say the cost of gas is going up, including 60% who say it’s going up “a lot.” By comparison, 82% of Americans say the cost of groceries is going up, with 47% saying it’s going up “a lot.” Though views of the economy are often partisan, gas price increases are being felt across parties, with 91% of Democrats, 90% of independents, and 81% of Republicans saying costs are increasing.

Slide from Navigator Research titled: Nearly All Americans Feel Gas Prices Going Up

Trump’s Approval on Gas Prices Hits Rock Bottom

Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of gas prices by 37 points (28% approve – 65% disapprove), with independents disapproving by 57 points (15% approve – 72% disapprove). Republicans are slightly more positive, approving of Trump’s handling of gas prices by 18 points (55% approve – 37% disapprove), though this approval is significantly worse than their overall approval rating of the president (net +52; 75% approve – 23% disapprove), signaling significant discontent within Trump’s own party. 

The rise in gas prices reveals fractures within the GOP, with non-MAGA Republicans disapproving of Trump’s handling of the issue by 21 points (33% approve – 54% disapprove), and Republican women only approving by 11 points (51% approve – 40% disapprove)  compared to Republican men who approve by 24 points (59% approve – 35% disapprove). In contrast, MAGA Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of gas prices by 51 points (73% approve – 22% disapprove).

Bar graph from Navigator Research titled: Trump Is Most Underwater on Gas Prices, Dragged Down By Net-Negative Non-MAGA Republican Ratings

Trump’s War with Iran Seen as the Culprit

Whether open-ended or closed-ended, the war in Iran is considered the top driver of high gas prices. More Americans see the war as responsible for rising gas prices (71%), than Trump and Republicans in Congress (48%), or oil and gas companies (36%). An overwhelming majority also blame Trump and Republicans in Congress more for rising gas prices than Democrats in Congress (60% blame Trump and Republicans in Congress – 16% blame Democrats in Congress). When adding the phrase “because of the war,” blame for Trump and Republicans in Congress increases (64% blame Trump and Republicans – 12% blame Democrats in Congress).

  • Across parties, Americans say “President Trump and Republicans in Congress because of the war with Iran” are more to blame than Democrats in Congress, including Democrats by 84 points, independents by 58 points, and Republicans by 18 points.
Slide from Navigator Research titled Americans Blame the War in Iran and Trump/GOP for Gas Prices

The Democratic Party Holds Narrow Advantage on Handling Gas Prices

By 4 points, Americans trust the Democratic Party more to handle gas prices than Trump and the Republican Party (35% trust Democratic Party – 31% trust Trump and Republican Party). Over one-in-four don’t trust either party to handle gas prices (27%), including a majority of independents (52%) and nearly half of non-MAGA Republicans (45%).

Bar graph from Navigator Research titled Democrats Are Slightly More Trusted Than Trump:GOP on Gas Prices; Many Trust Neither Party or Are Unsure
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About The Study

Global Strategy Group conducted a public opinion survey among a sample of 1,000 registered voters from April 2-April 6, 2026. 100 additional interviews were conducted among Hispanic voters. 100 additional interviews were conducted among African American voters. 75 additional interviews were conducted among Asian American and Pacific Islander voters. 100 additional interviews were conducted among independent voters. The survey was conducted online, recruiting respondents from an opt-in online panel vendor. Respondents were verified against a voter file and special care was taken to ensure the demographic composition of our sample matched that of the national registered voter population across a variety of demographic variables. The margin of error for the full sample at the 95 percent level of confidence is +/- 3.1 percentage points. The margin of error for subgroups varies and is higher.