A trucking company owner who has publicly supported Donald Trump has called on the president to intervene on diesel fuel costs, which the owner says have climbed to record levels. The owner, wearing a T-shirt bearing the A.F. emblem, represented Pacillo General Contractors and reported that diesel fuel prices had reached more than six dollars per gallon. The owner noted long-standing personal support for Trump dating back to his initial campaign announcement.
The owner stated that support for Trump remained unchanged and called for action on fuel prices. Diesel has climbed above six dollars per gallon, the owner said, adding that a truck parked nearby carries a price tag of $275,000. The owner said keeping the vehicle in the garage had become a financial necessity.
The owner noted that the price of fuel had doubled and that the increased expense could not be passed on to customers. The truck generates around $1,000 per day, the owner said, but fuel alone costs approximately $300 daily — half a tank — making it difficult to absorb those costs without passing some on to customers, particularly on shorter routes. Drivers earn between $30 and $35 per hour, while the vehicle itself generates no profit.
The owner also noted that tyre costs had risen sharply in connection with elevated fuel prices. The owner commented on the conflict with Iran, expressing a lack of confidence in the upcoming midterm elections. The owner expressed support for the military operation against Iran, while also suggesting that allowing the country to acquire nuclear capabilities might have been a viable alternative, on the basis that any attack would have struck New York and that the city's losses would have been acceptable. The owner separately called for a diplomatic resolution to the standoff with Iran and pressed for action on fuel costs, stating that the small family business — operated alongside two children — was unable to run its trucks until prices fell.
By 15 September, diesel prices had climbed above $6 per gallon, reaching a new record, amid ongoing disruptions to global oil supply linked to the nearly seven-month standoff between the United States and Iran. Elevated diesel costs tend to ripple through a broad range of sectors. Such costs flow through supply chains, pushing up the retail price of consumer goods transported by road and rail, and may ultimately be passed on to end buyers as companies look to offset their financial burden.
Social media reactions to the business owner's appeal were divided. Some commenters indicated little sympathy toward those who had voted for Trump. One commenter noted that prior warnings about the individual had gone unheeded and questioned the rationale of appealing to Trump. Another commenter suggested Trump was indifferent to the owner's fuel expenses and that his political support was already secured, while a further commenter noted that despite ongoing complaints, the owner was expected to vote for Trump regardless.
