Steve Cortes
Role at the time: Political commentator and former Trump campaign adviser, on X
Condemned
Response to this claim
Zelenskyy is intent on driving up gas and diesel prices for American families because he wants Democrats to win control of Congress.
“It appears he is intent on driving up gas and diesel prices on American families at all costs.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Steve Cortes's X post on Zelenskyy and fuel prices · Steve CortesPost text and attached headline screenshot
Steve Cortes posted this on X on October 15, 2026, with a screenshot of the Associated Press headline on Ukraine's refinery strike.
Why we used this label
The reference point is Ukraine's decision on October 15, 2026 to abandon the energy truce Trump announced on October 11 and resume drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. Cortes condemns the move, saying Zelenskyy appears intent on raising American fuel prices to help Democrats, so we labeled it Condemned. No competing label fits.