No, Trump Did not Provide 'Trump Fuel' Beginning at $49.99 Per Gallon to Floridians Fleeing Hurricane

Hours away from Hurricane Milton making landfall in Florida on Oct. 9, 2024, on-line customers shared a rumor claiming former U.S. President Donald Trump supplied a brand new product known as “Trump Fuel” for not less than $49.99 per gallon to folks fleeing the storm’s path. We additionally obtained reader mail in regards to the topic, with one particular person asking, “Is Trump promoting fuel to folks for $49 a gallon?”

In additional examples, numerous users on X posted their thoughts in regards to the rumor and particularly linked to an article (archived) hosted by the information cellular app SmartNews. The story’s headline learn, “Trump Affords ‘Trump Fuel’ to Floridians Making an attempt to Escape Hurricane Milton.”

One person posted, “Nothing like monetizing a catastrophe. Sickening. Worth gouging masked.” One other particular person said, “Personally, I name this worth gouging [for] $50+ for a gallon of fuel throughout a hurricane.” A distinct person shared, “What a f***ing rip off. Discuss worth gouging, that’s extra then [sic] possible a 1,000% inflation price, and he needs to Make America Nice Once more.” Others stated they couldn’t verify the purported information and that the matter indicated Trump had no morals.

SmartNews credited the publishing of the article to WhoWhatWhy.org — an internet site describing itself as “a worldwide nonprofit information group dedicated to reporting with out company strain, political agenda or a pack mentality.”

Nonetheless, a studying of the “Trump Fuel” story revealed the article’s creator labeled the textual content as containing satire. In different phrases, the rumor was not true.

The ‘Satire’ Disclaimer

A preface earlier than the Oct. 9 WhoWhatWhy.org article (archived) learn:

Would anyone be shocked if Donald Trump tried to promote gasoline at inflated costs to Florida residents attempting to flee Hurricane Milton? Not us!

We’re 4 weeks away from wrapping up one of many craziest election cycles in latest reminiscence… nicely, not less than the pre-litigation portion of it. Largely, that is owed to the truth that Donald Trump is a patently ridiculous determine and has turned the GOP right into a bizarre cult, which he has sought to capitalize on in ludicrous methods. Subsequently, we generally use satire for example the absurdity of all of it. That is a kind of occasions.

SmartNews encourages readers to make use of the corporate’s cellular app as an alternative of a desktop net browser, and truncates articles if loaded outdoors of the cellular model. The preface mentioning the phrase “satire” was not visible in the truncated version.

The Article Revealed by WhoWhatWhy.org

Following the preface, the complete article started with an unfaithful story of Trump posting about “Trump Fuel” on his Fact Social platform:

Donald Trump on Wednesday morning introduced on his Fact Social web site that he’s providing a particular deal to the tens of 1000’s of Floridians who’re determined to flee the trail of Hurricane Milton however could also be stranded as a result of fuel stations within the Tampa space are working out of gas.

“MAGA motorists, I’ve a golden alternative for you,” introduced Trump in a video posted to his social media web site. “At present solely, I’m providing you ‘Trump Fuel’ beginning at simply $49.99 per gallon. It is essentially the most lovely fuel round.”

This isn’t the primary product or bauble that Trump is hawking. In latest weeks, he has already tried to persuade his followers, who’re fueling the billionaire’s presidential marketing campaign with their small-money donations, to buy something from gaudy watches and particular silver cash to “God Bless the USA” Bibles made in China.

The satire-labeled story continued by detailing three purported variations of “Trump Fuel,” together with a daily model for $49.99 per gallon, a “Drill, Child, Drill” version that is available in a commemorative can with Trump’s face on it for $199.99 and a “Gold Star” model containing a bead of sweat from a Trump rally for $899.99.

The article’s mentions of the previous president endorsing gross sales of $100,000 watches, silver coins and special Bibles (and Trump’s “By no means Give up Excessive-Tops” sneakers) have been all true.

The story closed with a number of different satirical bits, for instance the concept every buyer could be restricted to at least one gallon per order, with proof of citizenship required to buy.

AP Experiences Trump’s Bibles Have been Made in China

The fictional story about “Trump Fuel” unfold on Oct. 9 within the hours after The Associated Press solely reported, “Hundreds of copies of Donald Trump’s ‘God Bless the USA’ Bible have been printed in a rustic that the previous president has repeatedly accused of stealing American jobs and interesting in unfair commerce practices — China.”

For background, right here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that decision some or all of their output humorous or satirical.

Sources