The White House announced this week that the first "Freedom Fuel" gas station has opened in Philadelphia, selling regular gasoline at $3.47 per gallon, below the current national average.
The White House posted about the station Tuesday on the social media platform X, saying the first Freedom Fuel location "has LANDED in Philadelphia." The post also explained the pricing: $3.47 is a reference to President Trump, who serves as the nation's 47th president in his second term.
A White House spokesperson told CBS News on Wednesday that the company behind the Freedom Fuel Network is private and owns 25 filling stations across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The spokesperson said the Trump administration is not involved with the company and is not subsidizing the stations. Instead, the stations offer lower prices by reducing their own profit margins.
The Philadelphia stations are operating in a state where the average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.98. The national average stood at $3.80 on Wednesday, according to AAA. That figure is down from a recent peak of $4.56 in mid-May but remains well above the $2.98 per gallon Americans paid just before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
Diesel prices have also climbed sharply. A gallon of diesel cost $4.77 on Wednesday, compared to $3.76 before the Iran conflict. Diesel is widely used in the trucking industry and affects shipping costs across the economy.
The White House's social media post included a video of customers at the Philadelphia station expressing appreciation. "Thanks, Trump, for saving me some money," said one customer filmed at the location.
Gas station owners set pump prices independently. Industry practice sometimes involves absorbing higher oil costs rather than passing them on to customers, particularly in competitive local markets.
The 25 Freedom Fuel locations are spread across five New Jersey municipalities, including Egg Harbor Township and Marlton, and 15 Pennsylvania communities, with six locations in Philadelphia alone. Additional stations are in suburbs including Bensalem, Brookhaven, Camp Hill, and Pottstown.
