Scott Bessent tells lawmakers when he expects gas prices to come down — and how low they could go

Nypost · 🇷🇺 public Russia · Apr 22, 2026 · 297 words · By Victor Nava

Economic Stability/Energy Prices Geopolitical Conflict (Iran) Political comparison (Trump vs. Biden)

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Daily briefing

What to know about Economic Stability/Energy Prices

Scott Bessent tells lawmakers when he expects gas prices to come down — and how low they could go Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers Wednesday that gas prices will start to come down once the Iran conflict concludes – and could plummet to below…

Claims checked 8

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

“I think the conflict will end, I think gasoline prices will come back to where they were or perhaps lower,” Bessent said during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.

Common ground

“President Trump has shown that he is good at getting energy prices down,” the treasury secretary added.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Authority, Cherry Picking: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Economic Stability/Energy Prices story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The average price of a gallon of regular gas hit $4.02 on Wednesday, which is slightly lower than last week’s $4.10 average, but more than $1 higher than the $2.98 average on Feb. 28, the day Trump launched Operation Epic Fury in Iran, according to AAA?
How does this story connect Economic Stability/Energy Prices with Geopolitical Conflict (Iran) over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/22/us-news/scott-bessent-tells-lawmakers-when-he-expe…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Appeal to Authority 60% confidence

Citing an authority figure as evidence, even when the authority is not qualified on the topic.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to authority helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Cherry Picking 70% confidence

Selectively presenting evidence that supports one side while ignoring contrary evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing cherry picking helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7

info Single Source 1

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Claim 1: “The average price of a gallon of regular gas hit $4.02 on Wednesday, which is slightly lower than last week’s $4.10 average, but more than $1 higher than the $2.98 average on Feb. 28, the day Trump launched Operation Epic Fury in Iran, according to AAA.”

CORROBORATED

The web search results contain a direct quote matching the claim's details: $4.02 on Wednesday, lower than last week's $4.10, but more than $1 higher than the $2.98 average on Feb. 28. This specific data point is reported across multiple search snippets.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Lawtey is a city in Bradford County, Florida, United States. The population was 636 at the 2020 US Census, down from 730 at the 2010 US Census. The City of Lawtey has received national attention and e…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawtey,_Florida

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Wednesday is an American alternative rock band formed in Asheville, North Carolina, in 2017. The band consists of Karly Hartzman (vocals, guitar), MJ Lenderman (guitar, backing vocals), Xandy Chelmis …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wednesday_(American_band)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — WrestleMania 42, also promoted as WrestleMania Vegas, was a 2026 professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was the 42nd annual WrestleMania and took place a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_42

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: ““The way to think about this is, as I came in today, oil prices are at $100, if we had not done that sanctions relief they may have been at $150 – the world became very well supplied,” he said.”

CORROBORATED

The claim regarding the comparison of oil prices ($100 vs $150) due to sanctions relief is directly quoted and corroborated by multiple web search results detailing Bessent's statements.

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web search NEUTRAL — "The way to think about this is, as I came in today, oil prices are at $100, if we had not done that sanctions relief they may have been at $150 - the world became very well supplied," he said.
https://nypost.com/2026/04/22/us-news/scott-bessent-tells-la…

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web search NEUTRAL — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said removing sanctions on Iranian oil would lower global prices.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/us/politics/iran-oil-sanc…

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web search NEUTRAL — US pauses sanctions on some of Iran's oil as gas prices surge Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. will allow the sale of shipments already in transit.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/20/us-pauses-sanctions…

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Claim 3: ““I think the conflict will end, I think gasoline prices will come back to where they were or perhaps lower,” Bessent said during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.”

CORROBORATED

The claim that Bessent stated gas prices will return to previous levels or fall lower after the conflict ends is corroborated by multiple web search results detailing his testimony at a Senate hearing.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Donald Trump assumed office as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, 2025. The president has the legal authority to nominate members of his cabinet to the United States Senate for con…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_cabinet_of_Donald_Trump

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Two shutdowns of the U.S. federal government have occurred in 2026, both arising from disputes in Congress about reforms to federal immigration enforcement after the killing of Alex Pretti by Customs …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_federal_gov…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Marco Antonio Rubio (, ROO-bee-oh; born May 28, 1971) is an American politician, attorney, and diplomat serving since 2025 as the 72nd United States secretary of state. He is also the acting national …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Rubio

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “Under former President Joe Biden, gas prices hit an all-time record high of $5 per gallon in June 2022, which Trump has regularly referenced to boast about the prices at the pump under his administration.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that gas prices hit a high point near $5 per gallon in June 2022. While the claim specifies 'under former President Joe Biden,' the evidence confirms the price point and date range, which is generally associated with that period.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In United States politics, the gas tax holiday or the gas tax loophole was originally a 2008 proposal made by presidential contenders Arizona Senator John McCain and New York Senator Hillary Clinton t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_tax_holiday

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Delawa…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 26 September 2022, a series of underwater explosions and consequent gas leaks occurred on 3 of 4 Nord Stream pipes, rendering them inoperable. The Nord Stream 1 (NS1) and Nord Stream 2 (NS2) are tw…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nord_Stream_pipelines_sabotage

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 5: ““President Trump has shown that he is good at getting energy prices down,” the treasury secretary added.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided confirms Bessent's statements regarding gas prices and the Iran conflict, but none of the retrieved sources directly quote or confirm the specific statement that 'President Trump has shown that he is good at getting energy prices down.' This specific claim lacks independent corroboration in the provided search results.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Donald Trump's second and current tenure as the president of the United States began upon his inauguration as the 47th president on January 20, 2025. Trump, a Republican, previously served as the 45th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_presidency_of_Donald_Tr…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “During the hearing, Bessent also defended the sanctions relief the Trump administration has granted Iran and Russia to free up “more than 250 million barrels” of oil on ships at sea.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that Bessent defended sanctions relief for Iranian oil at sea, and that the relief was intended to free up significant quantities of oil.

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web search NEUTRAL — The Trump administration has waived sanctions on Iranian oil purchases at sea for 30 days to ease surging oil prices driven by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent ...
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/20/us-sanctions…

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web search NEUTRAL — The U.S. may soon remove sanctions on Iranian oil stranded on tankers at sea, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday as Washington seeks to curb prices soaring over Iran's closure of ...
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-may-remove-sancti…

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web search NEUTRAL — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said removing sanctions on Iranian oil would lower global prices.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/us/politics/iran-oil-sanc…

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Claim 7: “When pressed by Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) on “how fast” prices at the pump will fall, Bessent reiterated that it depends on “when the war and the conflict end.””

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results indicate that Bessent's comments on gas price decline are conditional on the conclusion of the conflict, aligning with the claim that the rate of fall depends on when the war and conflict end.

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web search NEUTRAL — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers Wednesday that gas prices will start to come down once the Iran conflict concludes - and could plummet to below pre-war levels.
https://nypost.com/2026/04/22/us-news/scott-bessent-tells-la…

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web search NEUTRAL — WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed confidence Wednesday that the national average cost of a gallon of gas would fall below $3 by the end of September, even as he said the timing d…
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/us/snplus/news/2026/04/15/trea…

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web search NEUTRAL — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that a return to $3‑per‑gallon gas by summer will depend largely on how negotiations with Iran unfold, adding that prices could fall back to ...
https://www.newsweek.com/gas-prices-oil-scott-bessent-update…

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Claim 8: “Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers Wednesday that gas prices will start to come down once the Iran conflict concludes – and could plummet to below pre-war levels.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results report that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that gas prices will fall after the Iran conflict ends and could drop below pre-war levels. The claim is supported by multiple independent reports citing his statements.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Scott Kenneth Homer Bessent ( BESS-ənt; born August 21, 1962) is an American businessman and government official serving since 2025 as the 79th United States secretary of the treasury. Bessent was a p…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Bessent

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Following the Iranian Revolution, the United States has since 1979 applied various economic, trade, scientific and military sanctions against Iran. United States economic sanctions are administered by…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_sanctions_agains…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.