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Trump-promoted discount gas stations fuel a mystery and questions
7/10/2026, 12:50 AM - 416 words
Faulty reasoning signals
- Framing Effect - 19.5%
- Confirmation Bias - 17.9%
- Appeal to Authority - 13.1%
Article text
All right, now to the Trump administration's latest attempt to rein in rising costs. The White House announcing what it calls the Freedom Fuel Network. These are designed as gas stations offering discounts on fuel across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And so, for more on all this, I'm going to bring in ABC's Steven Portnoy, who has been tracking this story for us. Steven, great to see you as always, but first, tell us about these gas stations and how does this all work? >> Well, it appears to be something of a
promotion, Alex. The president announced this online last week saying that someone whom he called a very smart retailer located throughout the Northeast would be stepping up and lowering gas prices at 25 stations. These 25 stations are clustered in and around Philadelphia with several in the suburbs of Pennsylvania. One is far west in PA as the Harrisburg area and a few in New Jersey as far east as just outside of Atlantic City. The White House today touted the $3.47 per gallon price that's on offer for
regular saying it's a nod to Trump as the 47th president. Now, the Energy Department says the average price of regular in the Central Atlantic states is $3.87 a gallon for regular. So, you're talking about 40 cents per gallon cheaper from $3.87 to $3.47 than the regional average. >> Well, and and right now, as we mentioned, these are only for drivers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Are there any plans right now to expand to other states? >> There's no indication of that at this point, but the president last week did
say that this one retailer is taking the lead and that others should follow. A White House official told ABC News it's a single private company we're talking about here in the Pennsylvania, Philly, New Jersey area that owns all 25 stations there and that the Trump administration is not providing any of the funding. An aide at the White House says this company is reducing its margins simply to make gas prices more affordable for customers. The president put it this way in his post. He said,
quote, "They are doing this because they love the USA." Of course, Alex, not every retailer can do that. Gas stations are known to be a low-margin business. But then again, discounts are a time-tested way to drive up sales. Alex. >> Very true. Steven Portnoy for us. Thank you, as always.