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Memorial Day marks the traditional start of summer driving season — with an added dollop of political angst for President Donald Trump's party.
Gas prices above $6 per gallon are displayed at Chevron and Shell stations in Monterey Park, California, April 30, 2026. | Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina — The spike in gas prices is a national political calamity for the White House — but it’s also a local political challenge in every state of the union as Americans hit the road for the busiest travel season of the year.
While the Trump administration is focused on $5.02 — the per-gallon high-water mark hit under the Biden administration in 2022 as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine snarled energy supplies — gas prices in many states are nearing or have already eclipsed that level.
