WASHINGTON, DC: As voters voice growing frustration over climbing fuel costs under the current administration, a fictitious social media post went viral, alleging that President Donald Trump contacted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to demand lower oil prices for American consumers. The post quickly sparked debate and calls for verification across online platforms.
The Rumor: A Supposed Phone Call on Oil and Weapons
The claim gained traction via a post on X, which outlined a hypothetical dialogue between the US president and the Saudi leader.
According to the fictional exchange:
- Trump: “MBS, bring oil down to $50. I need cheap petrol for my voters.”
- MBS: “Donald, bring weapons price down. I need cheap F-35s for my war.”
- Trump: “You want cheap weapons? I want cheap oil.”
- MBS: “You want cheap oil? I want $90 oil. My city in the desert needs money.”
- Trump: “So we both want cheap but sell expensive?”
- MBS: “Welcome to business, my friend.”
The post quickly accumulated tens of thousands of views. While many users recognized the exchange as a joke, others took it literally, treating it as a genuine record of high-level negotiations.
Fact Check: The Source Was Satire
In reality, the dialogue is completely fabricated. There is no official record, public statement, press briefing, or media report indicating that such a conversation ever took place between Trump and MBS.
A thorough review of news archives confirms that credible media organizations have published no such reports. Furthermore, the original post stemmed from a known satire account, though many readers missed or ignored the disclaimer identifying the exchange as purely fictional.
Public Frustration Over High Gas Prices
The viral hoax emerged against a backdrop of mounting economic anxiety. According to data from the Energy Information Administration, nationwide averages for regular unleaded fuel have climbed to $4.35 per gallon.
A late-September AP-NORC poll highlights the political fallout: 65% of Americans attribute stubbornly high fuel costs directly to Trump’s economic policies rather than external global factors. Additionally, nearly half of surveyed citizens expressed worry about affording gasoline—a sharp increase from 39% in July—while Trump’s handling of the broader cost-of-living crisis holds an approval rating of just 17%.