Trump Says He Supports Banning Diesel Exports to Bring Down Prices

Rising energy costs have become an enormous political headache for the president as he tries to convince voters to elect Republicans in the November elections. Recent polls have shown many of the party’s candidates, including those running in what have long been regarded as safe Republican seats, in tight races with Democrats or independents.

Global demand for diesel fuel led to record-high exports from the United States this year, topping 1.6 million barrels a day in recent weeks, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Before the war started on Feb. 28, the country was exporting about 1.1 million barrels a day.

The E.I.A. this month said that it expected U.S. inventories of diesel to drop below 100 million barrels. Inventories reached a five-year low in 2025.

The American Petroleum Institute, which represents the country’s oil and natural gas industry, contends that a ban on U.S. exports of diesel would not bring relief to businesses and consumers. Instead, a ban would add to shortages by prompting U.S. refineries to reduce production, exacerbating the global shortage of the fuel.

The United States is currently the world’s largest supplier of diesel, providing about 20 percent of the eight million barrels of diesel traded by sea daily, the industry group said in a statement.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/business/energy-environment/trump-diesel-exports-iran-war.html