President Donald Trump is not accustomed to anyone correcting him, especially not in public.
But that’s exactly what happened this week in the Oval Office after Trump announced a planned $54 billion South Korean investment in Alaska’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
The timing was notable: Trump announced the large investment in U.S. energy infrastructure just five weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, as voters grapple with soaring fuel prices.
His war with Iran has contributed to the sharp increase in gasoline and diesel prices over the past seven months. It’s part of why his approval rating, even among his MAGA base, is at an all-time low.
But the president was not expecting LNG executives to embarrassingly correct him when he suggested the project could bring gasoline prices down.
A reporter tried to nail Trump down on the pipeline’s impact on energy prices.
“Mr. President … What is the timeline for completing the LNG project? And secondly, I was in Alaska just a few weeks ago. Energy costs are exceedingly high. Is there any consideration for constructing another oil refinery?” Gray Television’s White House Correspondent Jon Decker tried to ask on Wednesday before Trump quickly interrupted him.
“Well, this is going to bring those prices down. One of the reasons Alaska prices are going to come way down. When do you see completion of the job, fellas?” Trump asked, turning around toward the oil executives seated behind him.
And that’s when one of them sheepishly corrected Trump.
“Well, the oil pipeline is going to take three years, and we can start immediately as soon as this financing funds. So, three years we’ll have cheap gas for Alaska, which will be the lowest price in probably years, the gas we can deliver. The LNG will start exporting roughly two years after that,” Glenfarne Chief Executive Brendan Duval said.
That certainly doesn’t mean in any way, shape or form that gas prices in Alaska are coming down anytime soon, especially before the November election.
It’s something Trump clearly did not expect or want to hear after just saying prices in Alaska would “become way down,” whatever that actually means.
Social media also had no problem correcting Trump.
“Trump is clueless on oil industry, and it shows and it takes a lot more than just three years,” an X user stated.
Plenty of others agreed.
“Hilarious bc he doesn’t even know,” this poster chimed in.
Another commenter pointed out the obvious, “You’ll be gone by then, Sleepy Don.”
X user Tom Bates also mentioned the other elephant in the room.
“He is desperate to claim he brought down fuel prices for the midterms, although he is the reason they went up in the first place.”
Newsweek reported that the White House says the investment is part of a larger commitment from South Korea. It’s part of a $200 billion investment from last year’s trade agreement.
Trump is desperately trying to convince Americans that exorbitant gas and diesel fuel prices tied to his Iran war will drop “like a rocket” after the midterms.
Of course, most Americans aren’t buying it, which is reflected in Trump’s horrible poll numbers. Gas in the U.S. is averaging $4.41 a gallon, more than $1.25 higher than a year ago, according to Triple A. Diesel is averaging $6.39 a gallon, nearly $2.70 more than drivers paid 12 months ago.
In Alaska it’s even worse. Triple A says drivers there are paying a steep $5.03 cents for a gallon of regular unleaded. And diesel? It’s even worse at $6.60 a gallon, more than $2.00 higher than last October.
