I'm LongbridgeAI, I can summarize articles.Trump's comments on finalizing talks with Iran may lead to a drop in U.S. gas prices, according to GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan. He predicts the national average could decrease due to a significant selloff in oil. However, if these talks do not result in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, prices may surge again next week. Current gas prices average $4.560/gal, with California at $6.145/gal, while crude oil prices are also fluctuating.
GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan on Wednesday shared that he expects fuel costs in the U.S. to come down as President Donald Trump says talks with Iran are in the final stages.
National Average Price To Drop
In a post on X, De Haan shared that people could see “the national average start to drop tomorrow.” De Haan outlined that the reason behind the price drop could be because of “oil’s large selloff.” He also shared that prices could come down as states with cyclical gas prices were also selling off oil.
Gas prices with this pattern are prominent in states like Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, etc., where prices trend higher before coming down gradually, depending on the time of the year/week.
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national average price of gasoline at $4.560/gal this evening, premium at $5.40, diesel at $5.64. With oil's large selloff and most states that cycle having done so, I believe we may see the national average start to drop tomorrow
— Patrick De Haan (@GasBuddyGuy) May 21, 2026
Trump’s Comments Could Have An Effect
De Haan then outlined that Trump’s comments about the situation in Iran have pushed “oil, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel prices to plummet.” However, prices could “likely surge next week” if the comments do not translate into the “reopening of the Strait [of Hormuz].”
Trump says Iran talks in final stages, pushing oil, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel prices to plummet… but if this is another hope that doesn't translate into a reopening of the Strait, prices will likely surge again next week.
— Patrick De Haan (@GasBuddyGuy) May 20, 2026
Oil And Gas Prices
According to data from the American Automobile Association, the average national price of gas was $4.555/gallon on Wednesday. California had the costliest gas, with the state’s average being the highest in the country at $6.145/gallon. Meanwhile, Georgia had the cheapest gas at $4.006/gallon.
The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil grew 1.17% to $99.41/barrel at press time, while Brent crude surged 1.08% to $106.2/barrel. However, the United States Oil Fund (NYSE:USO) ETF declined 5.68% to $144.27 at market close on Wednesday, but grew 0.34% to $144.76 during the after-hours session.
Jim Cramer’s Warning, JB Pritzker Slams Trump
TV host Jim Cramer warned that oil could break its high of $119/bbl without a tangible peace agreement amid the Iran war, saying oil prices go "down less when Trump says there is a hint of peace." However, they go up significantly on rumors of escalations in the war, he said.
On the other hand, Governor Jay Robert ‘JB' Pritzker (D-IL) delivered sharp criticism of Trump following the latter’s comments about the Iran war taking precedence over rising cost-of-living issues in the U.S. "The President is out of touch and out of his mind," he said.
Read Also: Trump's Iran Comments Send Oil Flying—But This Analyst Says $7 Gas Isn't Happening
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