Collection

Did US Gas Prices Average $5 Per Gallon Under Obama and Biden?

We compiled a collection of rumors related to a great American tradition: complaining about paying at the pump.

by Rae Deng, Oct. 30, 2020

A large Shell gas station sign at night advertises gas prices over $6.

Image courtesy of Mario Tama, accessed via Getty Images

Americans are obsessed with gas prices. That's no surprise in a country where cars are king and giant gas station price signs are part of the landscape — but it also means the internet is rife with misleading memes about high fuel costs.

The Iran war, in particular, has driven U.S. gas prices to record highs in early 2026, sparking satirical claims about President Donald Trump's supposed response to American frustration over pain at the pump.

Snopes has long covered how presidential policy has and hasn't shaped gas prices: For example, we debunked a claim that Trump's policies lowered gas prices in 2020 and determined that gas did not, in fact, average more than $5 a gallon under former President Barack Obama.

Here are 19 rumors we've investigated about gas prices. For more, see our list of quick tips for avoiding misinformation about the fuel economy.

By Rae Deng

Rae Deng specializes in government/politics and is based in Tacoma, Wash.

A split-screen image shows U.S. President Donald Trump on the left and gas prices on a billboard on the right.

Did Trump say he'd make it illegal to photograph or post gas prices?

May 21, 2026

The U.S. president allegedly called the act of sharing gas prices "ECONOMIC TREASON."

On the left, an electronic sign showing gasoline prices above $7 per gallon. On the right, U.S. President Donald Trump, an old white man wearing a navy blue suit.

Don't add fuel to claim Trump's 'Operation Invisible Pump' bans gas price signs

March 11, 2026

No credible news outlet reported on the alleged ban.

Did Trump say people should 'only drive downhill' to save gas?

May 4, 2026

The fabricated screenshot circulated after Trump commented on gas prices, but the alleged fuel-s ...

A white man wearing a black suit speaks.

Did Trump say truckers should switch to gasoline to cut fuel costs?

March 18, 2026

Users shared the rumor weeks after the Trump administration and Israel started a war with Iran, ...

Trump post pledging Day 1 price cuts on eggs and gas is fake

Feb. 14, 2025

Fake Truth Social post notwithstanding, the U.S. president did promise during his campaign to "d ...

Gas Prices in LA Hit $7.59 a Gallon in Early April 2024?

April 3, 2024

A picture of a Chevron gas station sign with high prices prompted discussion on social media. Sn ...

US Gas Prices Dropped in 2020 Because of COVID-19, Not Trump

March 26, 2024

"The drop in March 2020 had everything to do with a massive drop in demand — nothing else," Patr ...

Biden Falsely Claims Gas Prices Were 'Over $5' When He Took Office

Oct. 31, 2022

Biden made the remarks in Syracuse as part of highlighting an investment made by the U.S.-based ...

Did Biden Sell Millions of Barrels of Oil to China?

July 12, 2022

The U.S. often exports oil to China — or overseas in general.

'A Whole Lot of Truth' (and Some Misleading Info) About Gas Prices

June 24, 2022

A viral piece of copypasta gets a few things wrong about gas prices.

Did Gas Prices Hit $7.11 at 7-Eleven?

June 21, 2022

The "prophecy" has not been fulfilled.

Facebook and Twitter posts and memes said to never forget January 6th and showed gas prices instead of images of the Capitol riot.

'Never Forget Jan. 6' Gas Price Photos Date from Obama Era

June 16, 2022

As gas prices hit a record high of $5 in the U.S. in mid-2022, some social media users shared mi ...

Was US Average Gas Price in June 2022 the Highest It's Ever Been?

June 8, 2022

The per gallon average reached $4.96, with California drivers paying the most.

brice cromwell bp executive blames biden for high gas prices

Did a BP Oil Exec Named Brice Cromwell Blame Biden for High Gas Prices?

June 6, 2022

One way to give undue weight to a political opinion is to pretend that it originated with a cred ...

A picture of a Costco Kirkland Fuel gas pump supposedly said don't blame us blame Joe Biden with two options for yes.

Did a Costco Gas Pump Say, 'Don't Blame Us. Blame Joe Biden'?

May 31, 2022

The message was supposedly documented in a photo of a Costco Wholesale gas pump displaying a Kir ...

According to a tweet US Vice President Kamala Harris said that gas prices are high due to gas prices not being low as before and to get back to lower prices we have to acknowledge gas is high which is the opposite of low.

Did VP Harris Say 'Gas Prices Are High Due to Gas Prices Not Being Low as Before'?

April 4, 2022

We looked for the origins of a strange and very viral quote about gas prices that purportedly ca ...

A gas prices meme comparing Trump and Biden was short on the facts and was highly misleading.

Viral Trump vs. Biden Gas Prices Meme is Highly Misleading

Aug. 17, 2021

We don't recommend basing broad and declarative conclusions on two seemingly cherry-picked pictu ...

An expensive Shell gas station in Los Angeles California led fooled some Facebook commenters into believing it was the norm for the state.

Expensive California Gas Station Fools Facebook Commenters

June 4, 2021

Pictures of an expensive California gas station led Facebook users to believe the prices were th ...

Did US Gas Prices Average $5 Per Gallon Under Obama and Biden?

Oct. 30, 2020

Viral images of Exxon gas station signs were shared in October 2020, ahead of Election Day.

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