Donald Trump Desak Pengecer Turunkan Harga Bensin AS

Presiden Donald Trump menuntut pengecer bahan bakar di Amerika Serikat untuk segera menurunkan harga bensin di pompa menjadi sekitar 2,50 dolar AS per galon menyusul penurunan tajam harga minyak mentah global setelah kesepakatan damai dengan Iran.

Langkah ini diperkuat oleh Menteri Keuangan AS Scott Bessent yang memberikan peringatan tersamar kepada perusahaan minyak dan gas untuk menjadi pelaku usaha yang baik menjelang perayaan ulang tahun ke-250 Amerika Serikat pada masa liburan Fourth of July.

Asosiasi Otomotif Amerika (AAA) mencatat rata-rata harga bensin nasional mencapai 3,847 atau 3,85 dolar AS per galon, dengan wilayah California melampaui 5 dolar AS per galon akibat tingginya pajak daerah.

"As we approach America’s 250th Birthday, I am pleased to announce that a VERY smart Retailer, located throughout the Northeast, is stepping up, and wishing the People of Philadelphia a 'Happy Birthday!'" tulis Donald Trump, Presiden AS di Truth Social.

Trump menambahkan bahwa jaringan Freedom Fuel Network akan menurunkan harga di 25 stasiun pengisian di seluruh area Philadelphia Raya pada hari Jumat sebagai langkah awal yang diharapkan diikuti pengecer lain.

"They are doing this because they love the U.S.A. We are proud to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday in the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Birthplace of our very special, one-of-a-kind Declaration of Independence," lanjut Donald Trump, Presiden AS.

Menurut presiden, harga bahan bakar saat ini sudah mulai menurun namun kecepatannya masih belum sesuai dengan yang ia harapkan.

"Just as I promised, Oil Prices are plummeting FAST, and Gas Prices at the pump are dropping too, but not as fast as they should be," kata Donald Trump, Presiden AS.

Ia juga menegaskan larangan adanya praktik spekulasi harga ilegal oleh para pengecer bensin di tengah penurunan harga minyak mentah dunia ke angka 68 dolar AS per barel.

"Gasoline Retailers must get their Prices down, IMMEDIATELY! They’re too high considering that Oil is now at $68 a Barrel, and heading south. The Retailers must quickly react to this statement, and do what they know is right — DROP YOUR PRICE FOR OUR GREAT AMERICAN PEOPLE!

There will be no gauging, which is totally illegal. If Retailers don’t do this, big problems lie ahead!" tegas Donald Trump, Presiden AS.

Trump juga menyoroti regulasi pajak di wilayah barat yang dinilai membebani masyarakat lokal.

"Start targeting around the $2.50 a Gallon number, and California should stop charging such heavy Taxes on their Gasoline. Soon the Tax will be higher than the Product itself, and the United States will not stand for it, nor will the People of California, who are being abused by these ridiculous Taxes, and by their own Government," tambah Donald Trump, Presiden AS.

Kondisi keamanan nasional juga diklaim Trump berada dalam posisi yang sangat baik meskipun sempat terjadi ketegangan militer sebelumnya.

"America has never been stronger than it is now, and Gas Prices will soon be back to the Record Low Prices Americans enjoyed at the pump before our very successful 'excursion' in Iran. Happy Birthday America!" sambung Donald Trump, Presiden AS.

Kementerian Keuangan AS mendukung tekanan tersebut dengan menyatakan pengawasan ketat terhadap margin keuntungan industri minyak nasional.

“I would encourage them to be good actors, especially in the 250th anniversary, because we’re watching,” ujar Scott Bessent, Menteri Keuangan AS dalam wawancara dengan Fox News.

Bessent mengindikasikan bahwa korporasi energi saat ini tengah menikmati keuntungan yang sangat besar di tingkat global.

“record profits”, cetus Scott Bessent, Menteri Keuangan AS.

Oleh karena itu, ia menilai sudah saatnya korporasi memberikan kontribusi nyata bagi stabilitas ekonomi domestik.

“time to do something for the American people”, pungkas Scott Bessent, Menteri Keuangan AS.

Pihak produsen menyatakan penurunan harga memerlukan waktu penyesuaian karena adanya efek tunda operasional dari pasar minyak mentah ke tingkat konsumen.

“We’re all concerned about prices. So, there is a lot of empathy, whether it’s in the U.S. or here in the U.K. or in Europe for consumers…It’s going to take time though. There is a lag between, you know, oil prices and reductions in oil prices and when that shows up at the pump, but we expect that prices will come down as things continue to normalize,” jelas Eimear Bonner, Chief Financial Officer Chevron kepada CNBC.

Di sisi lain, oposisi lokal mengkritik kebijakan luar negeri pemerintah yang dinilai menjadi pemicu utama lonjakan biaya energi nasional tahun ini.

“REMINDER of what Trump said on March 12: ‘When oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,’” tulis perwakilan Kantor Pers Gavin Newsom, Gubernur California di platform X.

Kantor gubernur menambahkan bahwa eskalasi konflik di Timur Tengah telah membebani anggaran belanja rumah tangga secara signifikan.

“The GOP-enabled Iran war has now forced a growing $63 billion in extra fuel costs on Americans nationwide — that $243.14 per California household so far this year,” papar perwakilan Kantor Pers Gavin Newsom, Gubernur California.

Pengamat independen menyebut karakteristik komoditas bensin dan minyak mentah memiliki dinamika pasokan yang berbeda di pasar finansial.

“Unfortunately for Trump, while obviously connected, crude oil and gasoline are actually different commodities. Crude market currently loose (yep, temporarily, surprising but true), but gasoline near its tightest ever relative to crude,” tulis Rory Johnston, Peneliti Pasar Minyak di platform X.