Republicans Downplaying High Energy Costs
Last Updated: 1/22/26
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01)
Miller-Meeks Claimed The OBBBA Lowered Energy Costs And Increased Domestic Oil And Gas Production. In an Op-Ed Miller-Meeks wrote for the Indianola Independent-Advocate, she said, “No accomplishment better captures that commitment than the passage of the Working Families Tax Cuts — a historic piece of legislation that fulfills his campaign promises and puts America First. […] Energy costs are coming down, thanks to a massive expansion of domestic oil and gas production. Fiscal sanity is being restored through $1.5 trillion in responsible spending cuts.” [Indianola Independent-Advocate – Mariannette Miller-Meeks Op-Ed, 1/19/26]
Miller-Meeks Credited Republicans With Increasing Domestic Energy Production To Lower Energy Costs In 2025. In an interview on The WHO Morning Show, Miller-Meeks said, “So I think number one, one of the first things we did in 2025 was to look at increasing domestic energy production to help lower energy costs. And I think in Iowa, I love going back to Iowa because when I come out of the airport, I see the prices of gas and gasoline. And when I travel the district, gasoline is now down to even below where it was when President Biden came into office. Now, in many places, it’s below $2 a gallon. But, you know, it’s not just energy costs as you put gas in your tank. 60% of food cost is energy. Excuse me. So that helps lower the cost of food.” [WHO-AM Morning Show, 1:04, 1/9/26]
Miller-Meeks Claimed Trump And Congressional Republicans Were Bringing Down Costs, Including Energy. In a video posted on Twitter, Miller-Meeks said, “I just voted no on another impeachment of President Trump. I guess this is becoming a perennial thing and maybe they have nothing else better to do. I voted no because we’re continuing to work to get prices down, make housing affordable, make energy affordable, and make food costs affordable. I’m continuing that mission along with President Trump.” [Twitter – @RepMMM, 12/11/25]
Miller-Meeks Said Gas Prices And Inflation Were At Four-Year Lows. In her newsletter, Miller-Meeks said, “President Trump and Republicans in Congress have already made incredible progress in undoing the damage caused by the last administration. Gas prices and inflation are at four-year lows.” [Miller-Meeks On The Move, 12/14/25]
Rep. Chuck Edwards (NC-11)
[VIDEO] Edwards Dismissed Affordability Concerns, Saying Inflation And Gas Prices Were Low And That Trump’s Actions To Lower Costs Had Not “Fully Had Time To Filter Through Our Economic System.” In an interview with NewsNation, Edwards said, “I think we all are extremely concerned about the price of everything, that’s the starting 4 years ago. I also believe, I take great confidence in knowing that many of the actions that the president has taken, many of the actions that congress has taken, are ultimately going to lower prices. We’re seeing that already, we saw an inflationary index reported by the bureau of labor statistics just a couple of days ago that inflation is less than economists expected. We know that gas prices are the lowest that they’ve been in years right now, which are typically a leading indicator of things to come. Those have not yet fully had time to filter through our economic system, not to mention the fact that many of the tax advantages that we gave folks last year in H.R. 1 haven’t had the opportunity to take effect yet and will not until folks begin to file their tax returns later this spring.” [YouTube – Congressman Chuck Edwards, ‘Congressman Edwards Joins NewsNation,’ 1:53, 12/30/25]
Edwards Said It Was A “Myth” That The Cost Of Living Was Climbing And Grocery Prices Were Worsening. Edwards tweeted, “MYTH: Cost of living keeps climbing and grocery prices are getting worse. FACT: While families are still feeling the effects of the previous administration’s cost-of-living crisis, we’re finally seeing signs of relief. Thanks to stronger fiscal discipline and pro-growth policies, the cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner has come down this year. When adjusted to previous lists, Walmart’s reported Thanksgiving meal basket is 6.5% cheaper than last year, making this holiday more affordable for hardworking families across Western North Carolina.” [Twitter – @RepChuckEdwards, 12/11/25]
Rep. Scott Perry (PA-10)
Perry Credited Trump With Lowering Inflation And Gas Prices, And Said The OBBBA Lowered Costs. Perry tweeted, “At President Trump’s inauguration one year ago, he promised, ‘…from this day forward, our Country will flourish and be respected again around the world.’ We’re delivering. Our borders are secure. Gas prices are plummeting. Free market policies are slashing sky-high inflation. The Working Families Tax Cut is letting you keep more money in your pocket. The trade deficit has been cut. The most expansive deportation efforts are under way to scrub America clean of criminal illegals. Women’s sports are for women. America is getting safer, healthier, affordable, and – yes – great again.” [Twitter – @RepScottPerry, 1/20/26]
Perry Claimed That Once Trump’s Policies Went Into Effect, Fuel Prices Would Decrease And Lead To Other Costs Going Down. In an interview on the Dom Giordano Program, Perry said, “The President is putting things in place to make our economy stronger, to bring job opportunities back home, manufacturing, American dominance and all these things. But it doesn’t happen overnight. Now, it’s going to take a little time, but a year is a lifetime in politics. And while, you know, we’re unhappy about the results, and rightly so, of this, this last election, we’ve got a year for these policies to start taking effect. And I think they are going to start, start taking effect. Of course, the fuel prices will start having effect on many things. Prices are probably going to come down a little. They’re not going to go back to five or six years ago, and that’s unrealistic. But what should change is, is that people’s wages are going to start going up, people’s opportunities are going to start going up. So even though you’re paying more, you’re not going to feel it as much.” [The Dom Giordano Program – ‘Trump Lowers the Shoulder,’ 11/10/25]
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03)
Van Orden Claimed That Once The OBBBA Went Into Effect, Energy Costs Would Decrease. In an interview on the Sean Spicer Show, Van Orden said, “When this tax bill comes out, people are going to be like, oh, my gosh, this is awesome. And as the economy starts picking up through more trade deals, lower energy costs, that lowers input costs, that lowers food, costs. As that happens, people are going to start realizing that these policies of the Trump administration and the work by the Republicans in Congress is actually beneficial to them personally. And that’s what people care about. They want to know how much it costs for a pack of paper towels. And I think that’s really important. I’m not belittling that at all. Gas prices are the lowest they’ve been in a very long period of time. Egg prices, remember, that was a huge crisis. Those are down. So things are working.” [The Sean Spicer Show – ‘Are Drug Boats Fair Military Targets? Republicans Need to RALLY for 2026 | Ep 598,’ 12/3/25]
Van Orden Claimed That Inflation And Prices Were Going Down And That Tariffs Had Been “Very Effective So Far.” In an interview on the Vicki McKenna Show, Van Orden said, “Inflation is going down remarkably, and prices follow inflation. So that’s in the process. Trust me, I’m as I’m frustrated as anybody else. But it just takes time because a lot of things are in place. President Trump is in the process of realigning the entire global trade network. So what does that mean? You got to, you have to exercise influence and control where you can and how he’s chosen to do that has been very effective so far are putting tariffs on things. They’ll start, stop, and move along.” [The Vicki McKenna Show, 1:19:58, 11/20/25]