A viral social media post falsely attributed a statement to Donald Trump, allegedly advising Americans to ride bicycles everywhere to conserve fuel for government vehicles and concluding with the slogan “Pedal For Freedom.”
WASHINGTON, DC: Following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which triggered an increase in gas prices, a fabricated rumor began spreading online suggesting that President Donald Trump had posted a call to action encouraging citizens to swap cars for bicycles.
The questionable post quickly generated online debate and confusion, prompting an immediate investigation into its authenticity.
The Rumor: Did Trump Tell Americans to Ride Bicycles to Save Fuel?
The claim originated from a graphic designed to look like a legitimate message shared by Trump on his verified Truth Social profile.
The fabricated text read: “AMERICANS – GET ON YOUR BIKES!!! We have to SAVE GAS while we WAIT OUT IRAN because SOMEHOW we used a tremendous number of missiles – PETE!!! Nobody told me you could RUN OUT OF MISSILES!!! Very unfair.”
It continued, “So bicycle to work, bicycle to the store, bicycle wherever you people go. The Beast needs gasoline. Air Force One needs gasoline. Golf carts need gasoline. THIS IS HOW WE WIN WARS!!! PEDAL FOR FREEDOM!!!”
While many social media users recognized it as a joke or a fake, a significant number of people on platforms like X and Facebook believed the message was real.
Fact Check: The Post is Completely Fabricated
A review of the evidence confirms that the viral screenshot is entirely fraudulent. Trump never published such a statement on any of his official social media channels.
Although the fake post was stamped with an August 7 date, a thorough search of Truth Social’s archives shows no record of the message. Furthermore, the profile picture displayed in the screenshot does not match the actual avatar used on Trump’s official account.
Independent searches also revealed zero legitimate news coverage indicating that the president asked citizens to abandon their cars or publicly criticized War Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding weapon supplies.
Trump Targets Chevron CEO as Fuel Costs Rise
Energy costs have remained a sensitive political topic in the United States since conflicts escalated in the Middle East. Spiking oil prices have intensified the cost of living, placing continuous pressure on the administration regarding its economic policies.
Amid these ongoing financial pressures, Trump recently used his actual Truth Social account to target Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth, writing that the executive highlighted his company’s strong performance while omitting the role of the administration in supporting the national oil sector and broader economy.