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Trump says he has pushed for diesel export ban
Oil and gas executives warn that it will backfire
President Donald Trump speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters on Sept. 22. (Heather Khalifa/AP)
Key Takeaways:
- President Donald Trump said he urged advisers to approve a diesel export ban as fuel prices climb amid pressure from the wars in Iran and Ukraine.
- Supporters said a ban could ease domestic fuel costs, while industry executives warned export restrictions could eventually reduce U.S. fuel production.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said officials are examining whether a full or partial diesel export ban is feasible.
President Donald Trump said he has encouraged his advisers to approve a ban on diesel exports, as the price of the fuel skyrockets amid pressure from the wars in Iran and Ukraine.
“I’ve said let’s not send out the diesel,” Trump said Sept. 22 when asked about members of Congress who are calling to suspend exports. “I’ve called for it within my people. I’ve been talking about it.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that officials are “examining whether it’s feasible in terms of the overall refining capacity and whether a full or partial ban would work.”
The president spoke during a meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he has urged to curtail attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
Trump has faced increasing calls to curtail exports of diesel, a fuel that’s vital to running farm equipment in America’s heartland and to providing electricity in rural Alaska. High fuel prices have weighed heavily on American voters ahead of the November midterms, putting Trump’s Republicans at risk of losing their congressional majorities.
Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) have both encouraged the move.
Trump on banning diesel exports: I've called for that too. I've said let's not send out the diesel. We make a lot of diesel. That could have a little bit of an effect on regular automobile gasoline because when you do that, you know, it's a sort of a flow, it's a balance, but no,… pic.twitter.com/Lvuo67f48J
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 22, 2026
Oil and gas executives have cautioned against it, warning that any restriction on U.S. crude and fuel exports would provide only short-term relief before ultimately backfiring. Initially, costs would fall as the U.S. held on to more refined fuel, increasing stockpiles inside the country. But without the ability to export product around the world, U.S. oil producers and fuel refiners would cut production, energy analysts say.
“That could have a little bit of an effect on regular automobile gasoline because when you do that, you know it’s a sort of a flow. It’s a balance,” Trump said.
