Treasury's Bessent urges gas retailers to drop prices for US 250th birthday, says "we're watching"

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

June 30, 2026 8:57 AM EDT Updated 1 hour ago


WASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged gasoline retailers on Tuesday to lower ​prices as the U.S. celebrates its 250th birthday, reinforcing President ‌Donald Trump's message with a warning that "we're watching."

"I would encourage all the gasoline retailers, some of them are owned by Big Oil, ​some are independent, some are international convenience chains," Bessent ​said in an interview with Fox News. "I would ⁠encourage them to be good actors, especially in the 250th ​anniversary, because we're watching."

Bessent reprised his boss's threat to gas stations ​on Monday to lower prices immediately or face "big problems." "If Retailers don't do this, big problems lie ahead! Start targeting around the $2.50 a Gallon ​number," Trump wrote in a social media post. On ​Saturday, the United States celebrates its founding 250 years ago as it ‌marks ⁠the July 4th holiday.

Oil prices spiked this year after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February and Iran responded with its own attacks on Israel and Gulf ​states with U.S. ​bases.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/treasurys-bessent-urges-gas-retailers-drop-prices-us-250th-birthday-says-were-2026-06-30/

[Ocelot II]

1. That sounds like something a Communist would do...

[C_U_L8R]

2. Oil Co's aren't going to sacrifice their most profitable weekend

Trump does not trump shareholder value and executive bonuses.

[PatSeg]

5. Yes and they know that Trump and his madness

is temporary and they plan to be around for a very long time.

[dweller]

3. having a hard time

picturing Pissant as a Luca Brasi here .. maybe he should growl ‘ NO GAUGES ‘

or something

🫤



✌🏻

[turbinetree]

4. Didn't his pinheaded orange hair Putin aligned traitor threaten gas stations yesterday

I thought these assholes were into that Laissez-faire shit show...........

[Shellback Squid]

6. fascist ideology, just another example

[Quanto Magnus]

7. That's certainly not the free market

Republicans crow about all the time....

I do think there is some price gouging going on, but it's comical that Republicans are trying to manipulate the oil companies now...

They know they are in political trouble.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

8. We've watching you too.

Shithead. If this regime thinks people are going to forgive and forget they are sorely mistaken.

[Prairie Gates]

9. These guys are going around calling Democrats "communist"

Meanwhile, they want central control of gas prices at the retail level?

[LiberalArkie]

10. He is begging the stores to sell something for less than they are paying for it.. Talk to Exon, Shell etc

Not the stores which do not make much from it... Net profit per gallon at the pump: About $0.05 to $0.15

[Torchlight]

11. They really do national socialism well, especially economic policies

of the state dictating the market. I suppose after trump ensured Iran kicked our ass, this is his panache to become popular again.

[Kid Berwyn]

12. The Royal "We"

Him and Pulte?

[RedWhiteBlueIsRacist]

13. The Free Market not a thing with these folks now, lol?

[Justice matters.]

14. Gangsters.

"Nice retail business you got there. Would be a shame if something bad happened to it."

[Stacey Grove]

18. Not gangsters

Actual gangsters hold no truck with pedophiles.

These are doughy soft men who couldn't even handle a bar fight. Yet they issue threats and hide behind federal law enforcement protection.

Simpering, pampered men who worship a child molester who shits his diapers

[Javaman]

15. yeah, drop it to .76 cents nationwide.

then watch the industry crash LOL

[lonely bird]

16. How can I put this gently?

Fuck off, Scott.

[Wonder Why]

17. Their actions remind me of this song:

Ben Colder – Help Me Fake It Through The Night