President Trump teased a diesel announcement at the White House on Friday as voters continued to struggle with costs, but he didn’t say Russia would supply the United States with diesel or explain any supply arrangement. The headline claim remains unconfirmed by his remarks. What he offered was a promise of an announcement to come.
A Promise From the Top
At a Columbus Day celebration in the White House East Room, Trump said, “We have a big announcement coming up on diesel.” He also said Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought would make a “tremendous announcement” in the near future. Neither promise came with policy details.
Trump described Vought as potentially “even more important than Chris if he pulls this off,” referring to Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “He’s working on something that’s going to be so good for our country,” Trump said. The public heard the praise, but not what Vought is working on, who would benefit, or how the announcement would address fuel costs.
The promise had been building for days. At an event in Baltimore on Wednesday, Trump said, “We have some big surprises coming up in another few weeks, right, Russ?” He added, “He’s going to be one of the very important people in the history of our country, in my opinion. He’s got some great things happening.” Again, the remarks offered a forecast, not the substance of a plan.
Fuel Costs, Election Timing
Trump’s remarks came as he rolled out announcements ahead of the midterms, including initiatives focused on energy affordability. Voters continued to struggle with costs. Those costs are the stated reason for the announcements, while the president and his appointees hold back information about what they intend to do.
On Monday, Trump signed an executive order during a rally in Nebraska seeking to increase the availability of red-dyed diesel. Nebraska is home to a competitive Senate race. The order is a concrete action; the promised diesel announcement still isn’t a disclosed arrangement. The account offers no details about the order’s effects or how much it would change availability.
The previous week, Trump announced that the South Korean government would invest up to $200 billion in U.S. energy infrastructure, including a natural gas pipeline in Alaska. That announcement also puts a large investment and an infrastructure decision among the administration’s energy initiatives. The account doesn’t say how the investment would affect the costs confronting voters.
No direct action, mutual aid, or community-organized response appears in the account, and no grassroots voices are quoted. Instead, as the midterms approach, the public is left with official promises, an executive order, and an investment announcement. Trump hasn’t said Russia will provide diesel. Until he or his administration supplies details, the promised announcement is still only a promise.