Donald Trump
Role at the time: President of the United States, in a post on Truth Social
Statement summary
President Trump said that what he described as U.S. total control of the Strait of Hormuz, together with the Russian energy announcement, would bring diesel prices for Americans and the world down quickly and in record amounts, and that lower prices for farmers, ranchers and truckers were his greatest priority.
“Between our TOTAL CONTROL of the Strait of Hormuz, and this great announcement on Russian Energy, Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST! Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority. This is a very big and important announcement.”
Post on Donald Trump's own Truth Social account announcing the diesel arrangement after his call with Vladimir Putin.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The case asks whether the U.S. should ease sanctions on Russian diesel to lower fuel prices, as the administration did on October 9. Trump announces the Russian supply and says it will bring diesel prices "COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST!", presenting the arrangement as relief for "our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers". That promotes and justifies the easing, so we labeled it Defended or excused. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional; it loses because the post attaches no reservation to the arrangement.