Trump says he aims to suspend gas tax “for a period of time”
Politics – CBSNews.com — 2026-05-11 18:37:00 — www.cbsnews.com
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 the president’s comments, Reublican Sen. Josh Hawley said Monday that he would introduce legislation to suspend the federal gas tax. And GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida also said she plans to introduce a bill in the House this week to suspend the federal gas tax “in light of Trump’s recent remarks.” 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.”Budget carrier Spirit Airlines shut down earlier this month as it faced surging pressure from rising jet fuel prices. Analysts say ticket prices for all airlines will increase this summer as those costs increase. Mr. Trump said he watched CBS News’ “60 Minutes” interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called it “pretty good,” though he disagreed with Netanyahu’s claim that “nobody had perfect foresight” when it came to Iran’s willingness to choke off the Strait of Hormuz.”I did,” Mr. Trump asserted to CBS News. “I knew they closed it. That’s the only weapon they have. It’s not much of a weapon anymore, but that’s the only weapon they have. We would have had it open, except that I did the favors for certain countries that asked me not to do it, we would have had it open under Operation Freedom, but we can easily go back to that.” When asked if he does intend to restart the operation aimed at providing vessels safe passage through the strait, he said “I don’t know — either that, or (something) much more severe.”
Over the weekend, Mr. Trump declared the latest peace proposal from Iran “totally unacceptable.” Asked by CBS News to detail what it was about the proposal that he found unacceptable, he replied, “It was just a bad proposal, a stupid proposal, actually…done by people that have no clue as to the danger they’re in. Very stupid proposal. Badly written, badly delivered.” Asked whether the Iranians made any concessions when it came to their nuclear program, he replied, “Yeah, for sure, but not nearly enough.”
Kristin Brown and
Patrick Maguire
contributed to this report.
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Washington — President Trump stated in a phone interview with CBS News that he intends to suspend the federal gas tax “for a period of time,” claiming it to be “a great idea.” He suggested that the tax would be lifted temporarily and reinstated when gas prices decrease. However, gas prices have surged over 50% since the onset of the Iran war on February 28, reaching a peak of over $4.52 per gallon, according to AAA. Analysts warn that prices are likely to remain elevated due to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Importantly, suspending the federal excise taxes—18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents on diesel—requires congressional approval and could cost the federal government approximately half a billion dollars weekly. Following Trump’s remarks, Republican Senator Josh Hawley announced plans to introduce legislation to suspend the gas tax, while GOP Representative Anna Paulina Luna indicated she would also propose a bill in the House. Several Democratic lawmakers had previously introduced similar legislation. The revenue generated from the federal gas tax is crucial for funding the Highway Trust Fund, which supports roadway construction and repair.
In the same interview, Trump dismissed the idea of a bailout for U.S. airlines, which are grappling with jet fuel costs that have more than doubled since the war began. He claimed that “the airlines are doing not badly,” despite the recent shutdown of budget carrier Spirit Airlines due to rising fuel prices. Analysts predict that ticket prices across all airlines will rise this summer as a result of these increased costs. Trump also commented on a recent “60 Minutes” interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it “pretty good,” but he disagreed with Netanyahu’s assertion that “nobody had perfect foresight” regarding Iran’s actions. Trump asserted, “I did,” claiming he was aware of Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as their only weapon, albeit one that is “not much of a weapon anymore.”
Over the weekend, Trump labeled the latest peace proposal from Iran as “totally unacceptable,” criticizing it as a “bad proposal” and “stupid proposal” crafted by individuals who “have no clue as to the danger they’re in.” He acknowledged that while Iran made some concessions regarding their nuclear program, they were “not nearly enough.”
How this sits against verifiable accuracy
Trump’s proposal to suspend the federal gas tax is positioned as a potential relief measure amid soaring gas prices, which have increased significantly since the beginning of the Iran war. However, the feasibility of this proposal is questionable, as it requires congressional action, and the financial implications could be substantial, costing the federal government around half a billion dollars each week. The excerpt highlights the complexity of the situation, indicating that while Trump advocates for this tax suspension, the necessary legislative support and funding mechanisms are not guaranteed.
Furthermore, Trump’s dismissal of a bailout for airlines contrasts sharply with the reality of the airline industry’s struggles, as evidenced by the shutdown of Spirit Airlines. This raises questions about the accuracy of his assessment of the industry’s health. The excerpt does not provide any external verification or support for Trump’s claims regarding the airlines or the gas tax suspension, leaving readers to consider the broader implications of his statements.
What the excerpt shows about verifiable lies
The excerpt does not explicitly confirm any statements made by Trump as false or misleading. However, it does raise significant concerns regarding the practicality of his gas tax suspension proposal, given that it requires congressional approval and has substantial financial implications. Additionally, Trump’s characterization of the airline industry as “doing not badly” is contradicted by the reality of recent airline shutdowns and rising ticket prices, suggesting a disconnect between his statements and the actual circumstances facing the industry.
Targets and tone
In his remarks, Trump specifically criticized the Iranian leadership, labeling their peace proposal as “totally unacceptable” and describing it as a “bad proposal” and “stupid proposal.” He further stated that it was created by individuals who “have no clue as to the danger they’re in,” which reflects a hostile tone toward those involved in the Iranian government. The excerpt does not indicate any other specific targets of disparagement or hostility beyond this context.
In summary, Trump’s statements in this interview raise significant questions about the accuracy and feasibility of his proposals, particularly regarding the gas tax suspension and the state of the airline industry. The lack of external verification for his claims leaves readers with unresolved concerns about the implications of his assertions.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-interview-suspending-gas-tax-iran-war/