Trump Open to Diesel Export Ban as Prices Hit Record Highs and GOP Pressure Mounts

U.S. diesel prices climbed to record levels, surpassing $6.50 a gallon, according to CBS News. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) publicly called on President Trump over the weekend of September 20-21, 2026, to impose an embargo on diesel exports, citing high fuel costs affecting farmers, according to The Hill and The Guardian. Grassley referenced past presidential embargoes on agricultural products in the 1970s as precedent for the move, per The Hill. President Trump responded by saying he would back a ban on diesel exports, as reported by BBC News. The proposal has created division among Republican lawmakers, with The New York Times noting disagreement within the party over the merits of such a policy. The Guardian reported that Trump faces broader criticism, including from within his own party, over the administration's handling of the agricultural sector amid rising costs linked to tariffs and the Iran war. The New York Times also noted that the U.S. energy situation was a topic of discussion at the United Nations around the same period. As of the most recent reporting, no formal export ban had been enacted; Trump's statement reflected support for the concept rather than a confirmed policy action. CBS News reported that experts warn a diesel export ban could carry unintended economic consequences, though specifics of those risks were not detailed across multiple sources. The exact scope, timeline, or mechanism of any potential embargo remains unresolved, as does the full extent of Republican opposition to the proposal.