The U.S. Oil and Gas Association laid into California Governor Gavin Newsom after he slammed President Trump for trying to restart the Sable pipeline in California, accusing the president of doing a favor for his “Big Oil” donors, while his own policies have left the Golden State importing over 30 percent of its crude oil from the Middle East.
"While Donald Trump's reckless and costly war with Iran forces families to pay more for gas and groceries, his Big Oil donors are profiting from his attempt to illegally restart the Sable pipeline," Governor Newsom wrote on X. "California is demanding the court block this flagrant abuse of power."
While Donald Trump's reckless and costly war with Iran forces families to pay more for gas and groceries, his Big Oil donors are profiting from his attempt to illegally restart the Sable pipeline.
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) May 4, 2026
California is demanding the court block this flagrant abuse of power. https://t.co/oJy23qTV1C
"Says the guy who thinks it's perfectly fine to import a quarter-million barrels of Iraqi oil into CA," U.S. Oil and Gas replied.
Says the guy who thinks it's perfectly fine to import a quarter-million barrels of Iraqi oil into CA.
— US Oil & Gas Association (@US_OGA) May 4, 2026
Every. Damn. Day. https://t.co/H1qsIHayce
The hypocrisy is striking, as even if reopening the pipeline were seen as a favor to “Big Oil,” it would still do more to lower gas prices and strengthen America’s position as a leading energy producer than Newsom’s policies have done.
Just yesterday, the last shipment of oil from the Middle East docked in California, as the state continues to rely heavily on foreign crude. That dependence leaves California especially exposed to price spikes and supply shocks, especially amid the conflict in Iran.
🇺🇸🇮🇷 The last tanker carrying Middle East oil to California just docked at Long Beach, and there are no more on the way.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 4, 2026
Two million barrels, enough to keep the state running for a matter of weeks, unloaded from the Hong Kong-flagged New Corolla, which loaded up in Iraq the day… https://t.co/7Ujt1ctca0 pic.twitter.com/fg8nhqrYUN
The good Senator is 100% correct.
— US Oil & Gas Association (@US_OGA) May 4, 2026
If only there was a way to produce oil right there in California so they didn't have to import it from Iraq.
That would be a game changer - right?
And who would be opposed to that?
Oh wait ..... https://t.co/VXSzW9V4bi
While gas prices are rising nationwide, California’s remain about $2 per gallon higher than the rest of the country. The U.S. Oil and Gas Association has consistently pointed out that Democrat policy decisions in the state are the primary driver, not Trump.
Hello @TomSteyer,
— US Oil & Gas Association (@US_OGA) April 10, 2026
California gas prices are “outrageous” — we agree. It is unfortunate that our customers are not only paying high prices for gasoline but even more to just to feed the voracious appetite of a bloated state bureaucracy.
But let’s stick to the data instead of… https://t.co/R9wfxzFMKu
This comes after Governor Newsom recently refused to suspend the gas tax to provide some relief to Californians, arguing that doing so would strip the state of critical funding for roads and other infrastructure. However, he has yet to explain why, with one of the highest gas tax rates in the country dedicated to infrastructure, California still ranks near the bottom nationally for road quality.
“It’s funding the biggest investments in roads, bridges and infrastructure in California’s history — a $180 billion, 10-year capital plan, substantially because of that voter-approved effort,” he said. “The price spikes in this state are directly attributable to the actions of the president of the United States. And the president of the United States needs to be held to account not only for those actions and their consequences, but he needs to end this war and address the growing crisis at the pump that he has exacerbated.”
State representatives gave similar reasoning.
NBC: "California has the highest tax on gasoline...would you call on Governor Gavin Newsom to suspend the gas tax?"
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 3, 2026
SCHIFF: "I'd be open to that as long as we place that windfall profits tax on oil companies." pic.twitter.com/ptU7JxAXNx
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