Trump’s oil-price dilemma: Letters to the Editor — Sept. 18, 2026
The Issue: President Trump’s handling of rising oil prices in the wake of the Iran war.
For those followers of the president who say that his critics suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome, maybe they should pay closer attention to his actual derangement (“Hits on Vlad diesel hurt US: Trump,” Sept. 14).
Trump asked Ukraine to stop bombing Russian diesel depots, blaming Ukraine for the astronomical price of diesel — while seemingly forgetting about what is going on in the Strait of Hormuz, after he instigated a war while negligently misapprehending the possible fallout.
Do any of his supporters ever question this man’s ability to run this country, or why so many are disturbed by his fecklessness and its fallout?
Lou Maione
Manhattan
I rarely agree with former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, but she’s 100% right: The sky-high prices for gas and diesel are “Trump’s fault.”
When he launched the war against Iran, his administration wasn’t prepared for the Strait of Hormuz closure, and now the attacks on Saudi Arabia are threatening a dramatic shortage of oil.
It wouldn’t surprise me if gas reaches $7 a gallon and diesel sells for $9 a gallon by the midterm elections.
Denny Freidenrich
Laguna Beach, Calif.
Trump has spent $38 billion on the Iran War.
What has our country gotten back from this?
The Middle East is in turmoil and our gas prices have skyrocketed.
The president should do the country a favor by firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for mismanaging the war.
The money could have been spent better.
Paul Feiner
Greenburgh
If the Iranians fully close the Strait of Hormuz in October to further raise oil prices, they would help the Democrats, who may will be more accommodating to their positions.
Trump can foil their plans with an executive order temporarily requiring all US oil companies to restrict their sales to domestic firms as long as the Iran standoff continues.
Leonard Weiner
Queens
Donald Trump claims the engagement with Iran is “small potatoes.”
However, many think he has made a mess of it, while others think he has made a meal of the conflict.
Frank Brady
Yonkers
The Issue: Mayor Mamdani plans to install 17 public toilets across New York City that will cost $235K each.
What do you think these toilets will be used for?
Not for one to relieve themselves, but for hookers, drug users, and drug sellers.
As my grandmother told me, “First, think of the consequences”: $4 million down the drain.
Jimmy Durda
The Bronx
I submit it’s a total lie when the city says the toilets will cost $235K per unit (“Zo takes the throne,” Sept. 16).
I worked on automatic public pay toilets (APTs) for the New York City Council Planning and Land Use Division many years ago.
Every time, the city opted not to install APTs because they were grossly expensive to buy, maintain and construct — along with fears of crime and terrorism: We feared that some idiot would place a bomb in one.
I doubt the administration factored in finding a site for these ADA-compliant units on crowded New York City sidewalks, or the cost to connect the APTs to water, sewer and electricity.
These units must be maintained every day; when we were doing it years ago, an attendant was required to watch and clean these units.
Think about how much that costs.
In a city with a huge budget deficit, wasting money on APTs is irresponsible.
The smart move is to forget about APTs.
Peter Janosik
Philadelphia, PA
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