“We are working with the industry … to increase the supply of diesel … without using blunt instruments. … Nobody wants a full blanket ban or zero exports of diesel. … What's being discussed is what's the most efficient way to get more diesel into the United States.
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Diesel Hits a Record $6.51 and Farm-State Republicans Tell Trump to Stop Exporting It — Chuck Grassley Posts That Prices "ARE KILLING FARMERS INCOME," Trump-Backed Senate Nominees in Iowa and Michigan Say the Iran War "Needs to End," John Cornyn Calls a Ban "a Gimmick," and Trump Says "I've Called for It Within My People"
September 22, 2026
The national average price of diesel reached a record $6.51 a gallon on September 21, 2026, up roughly 80% on the year, as the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, together with the war in Ukraine, cut refinery output and fuel shipments worldwide. Iowa diesel passed $6.50 and Michigan reached $6.81. Farm-state Republicans have spent the past week pressing President Trump to embargo U.S. diesel exports to keep more supply at home. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) filed two bills on September 17, one banning diesel exports through January 2027 and one that would trigger a ban whenever the national average tops $5. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on September 15 that he was "open to exploring it," and later that the export ban "makes probably more sense to me" than suspending the federal gas tax. On Saturday, September 19, Sen. Chuck Grassley posted that "High diesel prices ARE KILLING FARMERS INCOME" and asked why Trump didn't embargo diesel the way 1970s presidents embargoed farm exports. On Monday, September 21, two Trump-backed Republican Senate nominees, Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa and former Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan, each called for a diesel export pause and a gas-tax suspension, and each said the Iran war needed to end. Hinson has voted against every House resolution to halt the war. Their Democratic opponents, Josh Turek and Abdul El-Sayed, answered that the two were reversing themselves weeks before the election. Oil-state Republicans and the administration's own energy officials pushed back. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas called a ban "a gimmick," Sen. Lisa Murkowski said it "doesn't really move the needle," and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the administration would consider one only "if we thought that actually might lower prices, but that's not the case." Refiners and analysts warned that the United States already produces more diesel than it uses, so a ban could glut the Gulf Coast while prices rose elsewhere. Then on September 22, on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Trump said he had pushed for a ban inside his administration, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration was "examining" whether it was feasible.
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Statements Recorded
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22 Statements
“Banning diesel exports attacks the symptom of high prices while ignoring our critical shortage of refining capacity and pipeline infrastructure. … The answer to high energy prices isn't to ration American energy; it's to pass permitting reform and build the infrastructure needed to produce, move, and sell more energy.
“The idea is that you get Bessent and Greer and Hassett to do that analysis and if, on a short-term basis — and we are in harvest season right now — it would show that it would help, then it is something we should consider doing.
“The blunt tool of banning diesel exports definitely doesn't work. [Wright said at an event in New York that if refiners cannot export diesel they run out of places to store it and must cut U.S. refining, which would put upward pressure on gasoline and jet fuel prices.]
“I hope WH doesnt listen 2 Big Oil who claim diesel export ban wont work Big Oil doesnt need 2 charge sky-high diesel prices 4 Iowa farmers + truckers just filling up They shld cut price 4 US diesel&get the $$ frm other countries IF U CAN EMBARGO CHIPS U CAN EMBARGO DIESEL
“I've said let's not send out the diesel. … I've called for it. I've called for it within my people. I've been talking about it. [Trump, speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, said a decision on a ban would be made quickly] one way or another.
“The export ban, honestly, makes probably more sense to me. [Thune said suspending the gas tax would create holes in the Highway Trust Fund.]
“We're examining that, whether it's feasible in terms of overall refining capacity [and whether a full or partial ban would work].
“It's a gimmick.
“Trump is all smoke and mirrors. If he's serious about lowering prices of oil, gas, and home heating oil, he needs to end his illegal war with Iran.
“We actually produce more than we consume here, produce more diesel in this country than we consume. We’re talking about global supply, so I worry that we do something in the short-term … that doesn’t really move the needle.
“[Rounds, doubtful about how an export ban would work in practice, said] refining is going to be a bigger issue here than a lot of people thought, [pointing to reopening shuttered California refineries instead].
“American fuel should stay home with Americans. The cost of diesel is just too damn high. I'm calling for a temporary pause of American diesel exports so that we can rebuild our reserves ahead of winter, and put American and Alaskan families first.
“Iowans are being squeezed and shouldn’t have to foot the bill at the pump or the checkout line for the war in Iran. We need to use every option at our disposal to provide some relief from high prices. … [The war] needs to be brought to a successful and immediate end. [Hinson called for suspending the gas tax, pausing diesel exports, expanding E-15, restoring the $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax credit and a diesel relief program for farmers and truckers.]
“It's easy to send a tweet but when you had the chance to vote to end this war, you chose not to. You voted seven times to continue it, including just last week. It's time to actually end the forever wars and put Iowa and Iowans first.
“The war in Iran needs to end to bring costs down — but Michigan families can't afford to wait. [In a campaign video filmed in a grocery store, Rogers called for suspending state and federal gas taxes of about 70 cents a gallon and for a temporary embargo on U.S. diesel exports until the war is over.]
“Mike Rogers is lying straight to our faces. After defending Donald Trump's illegal war in Iran for months as a 'win-win-win,' Mike Rogers is only flip-flopping now. … You've spent your entire campaign supporting the war in Iran. Liar, coward, fraud.
“[President Trump] is considering a number of different things that he can do. … What we do in Wyoming, you know, we import diesel from Canada. We refine it and then send it back. … What we need to do is when the war is over, prices are going to come down and stay down significantly.
“High diesel prices ARE KILLING FARMERS INCOME. … W diesel $6.57 in Iowa why doesn't Pres Trump put an embargo on diesel exports like presidents in the 70s put embargoes on ag products bc food prices were inflated. … If our govt can embargo chips to China it can embargo diesel to help American farmers & truckers.
“[Burchett's office, announcing H.R. 10423, which would bar diesel exports through January 2027, and H.R. 10422, which would trigger a ban whenever the national average reaches $5 a gallon, said higher fuel costs are] ultimately passed on to consumers through higher prices for groceries, goods, and services.
“We'll be looking at any proposal that is a viable solution. … [If] that would take pressure off of prices, I'm open to exploring it. [Thune called a federal gas-tax suspension a short-term fix that would leave holes in the Highway Trust Fund, and said the best solution would be reopening the Strait of Hormuz.]
“We would consider an export ban if we thought that actually might lower prices, but that's not the case. [Burgum, speaking to reporters at a G20 energy meeting in Houston, later told CNBC that] every idea should be on the table that will actually lower the price of diesel or lower the price of gasoline. … I'm not at all confident that that would actually lower the price. [He warned a ban] could actually hurt Americans [if trading partners answered with their own export restrictions].