Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

We Now Know the Word That’s Going to Bury Donald Trump This November

newrepublic.com · 3h · first reportShare

It’s been two years since Donald Trump fell in love with the word groceries. He seemed to believe the word alone would convey his compassion for the common man. “The beautiful but simple word ‘groceries,’” he rhapsodized . “I won on that word.” Now we have a word Trump is losing on: diesel. The fuel used in heavy-duty trucks is named for the German engineer Rudolf Diesel. In 1894, Diesel invented a spark plug–free engine that requires a form of crude oil that’s thicker than gasoline. These engines are used in farm machinery, tactical vehicles, container ships, and, above all, heavy-duty trucks. Diesel prices have surged since Trump took office, and especially since February 28, when he started the war in Iran. When Joe Biden left at the start of 2025, diesel cost an average $3.63 per gallon. Just this month, that price blew past an average of $5.85 to a record high of more than $6.50 . Disruptions to oil shipments, notably in the Strait of Hormuz, are pushing up crude oil prices, while