With the rising cost of gas prices, the American people are being put in a tough position. President Donald Trump is claiming that high gas prices are only a temporary endeavor, but right now, individuals are having to choose between necessities or gas to fuel their cars. So, is this truly a problem our president can fix, or will we be stuck with rising costs?
To give context, on February 28, 2026, Trump launched a major military offensive without Congressional approval, marking a significant escalation in the conflict with the Middle East. The president’s objectives include targeting Iran’s nuclear program and responding to the threats, all while pursuing a goal of regime charge. The U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes, hitting government compounds and military targets. This killed key Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
As the war continued into March, we started to see the consequences of this conflict. Oil prices jump with the conflict that distributes energy exports. Continually, Iranian oil facilities are now targeted, and the Pentagon states there is no fixed timeframe for the operation. Even so, President Trump speaks on the subject stating the war is “pretty much complete” but vows to “finish the job.”
Flash forward to now, April 24, 2026, and the American people are still suffering from the effects of this war. Here at Woodford County High School, student drivers are being forced to pay these rising prices with most having limited income. Right now, in Woodford County, gas prices are a minimum of $3.95 a gallon. This simply adds up, with higher mileage from not only driving to school, but also to work, extracurriculars, sports, and more. This time last year in 2025 the average gas price was around $2.48 a gallon, which is a whole $1.47 less than today’s costs.
High schoolers shouldn’t be paying these prices, and neither should the American people. How can we rely on a President who is never going to change in his ways, especially in ones hurting Americans? At this rate, citizens should expect to continue to see rising prices at the pump, as there is no timeline for the issue to be resolved or agreed upon.
Pain at the pump will continue so long as the war with Iran is alive and ongoing.
