Trump Announcement Today: Dramatic New Policy Shake-Up Rocks 2024 Election

WASHINGTON—In a midday address from the White House, former president Donald Trump announced a sweeping proposal to roll back federal fuel-economy standards, describing the move as a “victory for American drivers and automakers.” Trump said the new plan would freeze mileage requirements for cars and light trucks through the 2031 model year, easing regulations that the Biden administration had tightened to spur electric-vehicle adoption. Under the previous rules, automakers were on track to reach an average of roughly 50 miles per gallon by 2031. Trump’s blueprint instead locks the target closer to today’s 39 mpg threshold, a change the administration argues will “keep consumer costs low” and preserve “freedom of choice” in the showroom. Industry leaders from Ford and Stellantis stood alongside Trump, praising the rollback as “common-sense alignment with market realities.” Environmental advocates immediately condemned the proposal. Dan Becker of the Center for Biological Diversity warned the plan “will pump more oil, more carbon and more cash into the pockets of Big Oil,” adding that it positions U.S. automakers to fall behind China and Europe in the race toward green technology. Analysts estimate the relaxed standards could add an extra 10 billion gallons of gasoline consumption over the next decade, potentially reversing recent declines in transportation-sector emissions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signaled the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will open a formal comment period in the coming weeks, setting up a regulatory battle likely to draw lawsuits from states that have set tougher tailpipe limits. California officials have already vowed to maintain their own zero-emission mandates, setting the stage for another clash over federal pre-emption. Political strategists view today’s announcement as a cornerstone of Trump’s 2026 re-election messaging, reinforcing his pledge to dismantle what he calls “job-killing green mandates.” Polling shows rising voter anxiety over vehicle affordability, and Trump’s team hopes the rollback will resonate in Midwestern manufacturing hubs critical to the Electoral College calculus. Economists remain divided on the pocketbook impact. While looser standards could lower sticker prices by an estimated $1,200 per vehicle, drivers may ultimately spend more at the pump; the Energy Information Administration projects average gasoline costs could climb another 15 cents per gallon in 2026 if the rule takes effect. The White House plans to finalize the regulation by late summer, but litigation could delay implementation well into 2027. Until then, automakers must technically continue meeting the existing Biden-era requirements, creating what industry lobbyists call a “regulatory limbo” that complicates product-planning cycles. Today’s announcement underscores the stark policy divide heading into the 2026 race: Trump promising battery-free muscle on the highway, Democrats betting on an all-electric future. With gas prices, supply-chain pressures and climate concerns all converging, the road ahead is set for a high-octane political fight.