WASHINGTON, D.C. November 23, 2025 – The White House celebrated a brighter Thanksgiving travel season on Sunday, announcing that Americans are embarking on holiday road trips with the lowest holiday gas prices since the COVID-19 pandemic, crediting President Donald Trump’s aggressive “drill, baby, drill” energy agenda for the relief at the pump.
In a post shared across social media, the official @WhiteHouse account highlighted the drop in fuel costs amid record-high travel projections from the American Automobile Association (AAA), which estimates 55.4 million people will travel at least 50 miles this week—a 2.1% increase over last year. “Americans are hitting the road this Thanksgiving with the LOWEST holiday gas prices since the pandemic. ⛽️🇺🇸,” the post read, accompanied by an image of President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump smiling alongside a Thanksgiving turkey, overlaid with Fox Business graphics emphasizing the savings.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the sentiment in recent briefings, attributing the trends to Trump’s push for expanded domestic oil production and deregulation since his 2024 reelection. National average gas prices hovered around $3.01 per gallon as of Sunday, according to AAA data—a slight dip from $3.02 last Thanksgiving and the lowest for the holiday since 2020’s pandemic lows. This comes after prices peaked above $5 per gallon in mid-2022 under the prior administration.
The administration’s messaging ties into broader economic optimism, with officials noting that increased U.S. drilling permits and reduced regulatory hurdles have boosted supply, countering global volatility from conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war. “President Trump’s policies are putting more money back in families’ pockets just in time for the holidays,” a White House spokesperson told reporters.
However, the claims sparked pushback on social media and from critics. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows regional variations, with prices in the Southwest and Midwest remaining in the mid-$3 range, prompting complaints from travelers in states like Arizona and Michigan. Progressive commentators, including Rep. Ayanna Pressley, accused the administration of exaggeration, pointing out that wholesale turkey prices have surged 40-75% year-over-year due to avian flu outbreaks, potentially offsetting fuel savings at the dinner table. “More LIES by TRUMP Supporters,” one viral reply read, arguing that global oil markets and OPEC decisions—not presidential fiat—primarily dictate prices.
Despite the debate, the post garnered over 5,800 likes and 166,000 views within hours, with supporters praising the tangible relief for working families. As the holiday weekend unfolds, the White House is using the moment to underscore its “America First” energy independence goals, teasing further announcements on tax cuts for fuel-efficient vehicles in the coming weeks.
