Politics · United States · 1 hr ago
Vance blames Biden and Iran for high gas prices at Michigan town hall
A Michigan voter challenged Vice President JD Vance over high gas prices at a town hall that aired Saturday.
The voter, Keyshawn, said he once paid $1.17 a gallon in Detroit and now pays $4.33.
Vance blamed lost US refining capacity under Joe Biden and Iranian attacks on commercial shipping for the increase.
The US went to war with Iran earlier this year, and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have kept oil prices high.
Vance agreed prices were too high, but did not give a date for when they might fall; he said the conflict had to end.
The price increases could hurt Republicans in the midterm elections, with control of Congress at stake.
Vance also urged the voter to support Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s close Senate race against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.
Vice President JD Vance blamed former President Joe Biden and Iranian forces for high gas prices during a CBS town hall in Michigan.
A voter identified as Keyshawn said he had paid $1.17 a gallon in Detroit during Donald Trump’s first term and now pays $4.33.
Vance said lost refining capacity under Biden and Iranian attacks on commercial shipping had contributed to higher prices.
CBS host Tony Dokoupil challenged Vance, saying the economy was now the Trump administration’s responsibility.
Keyshawn said he planned to support Democrat Abdul El-Sayed over Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race.
- Who
- Vice President JD Vance and Michigan voter Keyshawn. CBS host Tony Dokoupil also questioned Vance.
- What
- Vance blamed Biden and Iranian forces for high gas prices during a town hall.
- When
- The CBS town hall aired Saturday night; the article was published on October 18, 2026.
- Where
- Michigan.
- Why
- Vance cited lost US refining capacity under Biden and Iranian attacks on commercial shipping.
JD Vance
Tony Dokoupil
Responsibility for gas prices
JD Vance
Vance blamed lost refining capacity under Biden and Iranian attacks on shipping.
Tony Dokoupil
Dokoupil said that after nearly two years, the economy was the Trump administration’s responsibility.
How long the price rise would last
JD Vance
Vance did not give a date and said it “takes two to tango.
Tony Dokoupil
Dokoupil challenged Vance over his earlier description of the gas spike as a “temporary blip,” asking how long temporary meant.
Keyshawn said gas in Detroit had cost as little as $1.17 a gallon.
Vance described the gas spike as a “temporary blip,” according to Dokoupil.
The United States went to war with Iran, and Iranian forces fired on commercial shipping, the article said.
Vance took questions at a CBS town hall in Michigan.
- Keyshawn’s past gas price
- $1.17 a gallon in Detroit during Trump’s first term
- Keyshawn’s current gas price
- $4.33 a gallon
- National average before increase
- $2.98 a gallon
- Michigan Senate candidates
- Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed
What people are saying
What aren’t we doing that we could be doing to obtain the previous Trump administration’s gas prices?
at a certain point, it becomes your economy, not Joe Biden’s economy.
it takes two to tango
too high right now
Posts on X
One of the biggest pressure points on Americans' wallets is the Iran war, which has kept oil prices high even as the U.S. and Iran have refrained from active fighting in recent weeks. Vice President JD Vance told one Michigan voter that he believes, “when this conflict is over,