Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joined California Governor Gavin Newsom in criticizing President Donald Trump on Thursday, citing soaring energy costs driven by the Iran war.

Sanders stated that ordinary Americans cannot afford the current prices, calling for an immediate end to the conflict.

Bipartisan Political Backlash

Newsom renewed his criticism of Trump and Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Wednesday, accusing them of scapegoating California for national price spikes. Sanders echoed these sentiments on X, referencing Trump’s claim that high costs were a "very inexpensive price to pay" for the war.

Sanders highlighted specific consumer pain points:

• Gasoline at $4.44 per gallon.
• Diesel at $6.40 per gallon.
• Heating oil at $5.50.

Wright had previously labeled California’s imports an "Iran war blend" and cited Iraq-sourced oil as a national security concern. Newsom dismissed this, labeling Wright Trump’s "Chief Oil Shill." The Governor’s office noted that Americans have paid $100 billion in excess fuel costs since February 2026, a figure Illinois Governor JB Pritzker updated to $107 billion.

Record Fuel Prices

Retail fuel prices continued to rise amid geopolitical tensions. According to AAA data, the national average gasoline price stood at $4.4386 per gallon on Thursday. Diesel reached a record $6.3956 per gallon nationally.

California consumers faced significantly higher rates, with diesel averaging $8.2668 per gallon.

Market and Policy Reactions

Crude oil futures saw slight declines. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for October slipped 1.25% to $101.15. Brent crude futures for November fell 1.67% to $104.06. In overnight trading, the United States Oil Fund (NYSE: USO) slipped 1.15% to $154.37, while ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil (NYSE: UCO) rose 0.13% to $52.36.

The Federal Reserve’s decision to hike interest rates by 25 bps drew bipartisan criticism. Trump adviser Peter Navarro argued the hike would harm the economy, noting energy costs already function like a rate hike. Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggested considering restrictions on diesel exports to keep domestic prices in check.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren accused President Donald Trump of committing Americans to another prolonged Middle East conflict, citing reports that senior officials expect the Iran war to last through the end of his term.

Divergence in War Timeline Estimates

Warren criticized Trump on X after The Wall Street Journal reported that top White House advisers have discussed the possibility of the conflict continuing until January 2029. This internal assessment contrasts sharply with Trump’s public statement on Wednesday that the war would end "immediately" after the November midterm elections.

"Donald Trump signed Americans up for another endless war," Warren said, sharing the report. She noted that while Trump claims the conflict will conclude shortly after the midterms, his officials privately anticipate a much longer duration.

Trump argued that Iran is "desperate" to influence the election and prevent voters from choosing what he described as a "nice, weak group of people." Investor Peter Schiff called Trump’s comments the president’s "latest lie," arguing that an end before the election is unlikely.

White House Advisers Prepare For Prolonged Conflict

According to the Journal, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other senior officials have privately raised concerns that Tehran could continue resisting U.S. pressure despite a naval blockade and sanctions.

Vance previously declined to offer a timeline for the conflict, stating it would be irresponsible to provide Iran with an "artificial timeline." White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales defended Trump’s strategy, saying he has severely weakened Tehran’s economy through unprecedented measures. Wales added that Trump alone would decide how and when the conflict ends.

Trump’s Approval Rating Hits New Low

In the latest NBC News Decision Desk poll, Trump’s approval rating fell to 36%, down one point from the spring and the lowest in the poll’s history. His disapproval rating rose to 64%, also a new high.

While Trump has faced weak overall ratings before, declining support among his Republican base could be more concerning. His approval among GOP voters fell to 80%, from 83% in the spring poll.

Market Impact and Oil Prices

On Monday, Trump predicted that oil prices will fall "precipitously" after a U.S. victory over Iran, forecasting gas prices will drop to $3 a gallon and eventually below $2. At the time of writing, WTI crude oil was at $102.26 per barrel, while Brent crude reached $107.57 per barrel.

On Thursday, speaking to Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Trump said he would have attacked Iran regardless of the impact on the midterm elections.