The Diesel Diversion: Trump’s Faulty Attempt to Blame Inflation on Ukraine
Published . Updated .
Why Trump's efforts to pin high gas prices on Ukraine are politically convenient but economically backward.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- USO United States Oil Fund+8.2% 30d
United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story.
- XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR+7.4% 30d
Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story.
- UNG United States Natural Gas Fund-7.2% 30d
United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “gas prices” (natural gas) in this story.
- TIP iShares TIPS Bond ETF-0.5% 30d
iShares TIPS Bond ETF: it is a common hedge when prices rise. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story.
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings+11.0% 11d
ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story.
- CVX Chevron+9.9% 30d
Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story.
- COP ConocoPhillips+11.7% 30d
ConocoPhillips (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story.
- SHEL Shell+0.1% 13d
Shell (crude petroleum and natural gas): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USO | -5.13% | -5.78% | base | -1.51% | after close | after close | after close |
| XLE | -2.19% | -1.69% | base | +0.48% | after close | after close | after close |
| UNGNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| TIPNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XOMNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CVXNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| COPNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SHELNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
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The Diesel Diversion: Trump’s Faulty Attempt to Blame Inflation on Ukraine Time Magazine
Source: Time Magazine
Price since this story was published: United States Oil Fund (USO)
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | that day | -1.51% | still updating |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | three days earlier | -5.78% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | five days earlier | -5.13% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | that day | +0.48% | still updating |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | three days earlier | -1.69% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | five days earlier | -2.19% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) (jointly held), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Aug 2026. That is 56 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), worth $250,001 - $500,000 on 31 Jul 2026. That is 87 days before publication. Filed 22 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Chevron (CVX) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 33 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Chevron (CVX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 2 Sep 2026. That is 54 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Chevron (CVX), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 26 Aug 2026. That is 61 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Conocophillips (COP) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 26 Aug 2026. That is 61 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Conocophillips (COP) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 63 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Conocophillips (COP), worth $1,000,001 - $5,000,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 66 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Jonathan Jackson sold Walmart (WMT) (jointly held), worth $50,001 - $100,000 on 28 Sep 2026. That is 28 days before publication. Filed 19 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Walmart (WMT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 25 Sep 2026. That is 31 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Walmart (WMT) (held by a dependent child), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 11 Sep 2026. That is 45 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Costco Wholesale (COST) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 25 Sep 2026. That is 31 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around United States Oil Fund (USO)
Companies carried with this story
- USO United States Oil Fund
In “The Diesel Diversion: Trump’s Faulty Attempt to Blame Inflation on Ukraine,” United States Oil Fund (USO) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story
- XLE Select Sector Spdr Tr
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 26 Oct 2026 story “The Diesel Diversion: Trump’s Faulty Attempt to Blame Inflation on Ukraine.” Reason on file: Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story
- TIP Ishares Tr
In “The Diesel Diversion: Trump’s Faulty Attempt to Blame Inflation on Ukraine,” Ishares Tr (TIP) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: iShares TIPS Bond ETF: it is a common hedge when prices rise. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story
- BWET Amplify Commodity Trust
In “The Diesel Diversion: Trump’s Faulty Attempt to Blame Inflation on Ukraine,” Amplify Commodity Trust (BWET) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF: it tracks tanker freight rates. Linked by “diesel” (tanker shipping) in this story
- WMT Walmart
In “The Diesel Diversion: Trump’s Faulty Attempt to Blame Inflation on Ukraine,” Walmart (WMT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Walmart (variety stores): big consumer-goods sellers feel price rises in costs and shopper demand. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings
In “The Diesel Diversion: Trump’s Faulty Attempt to Blame Inflation on Ukraine,” ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story
- COST Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale (COST) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 26 Oct 2026 story “The Diesel Diversion: Trump’s Faulty Attempt to Blame Inflation on Ukraine.” Reason on file: Costco Wholesale (variety stores): big consumer-goods sellers feel price rises in costs and shopper demand. Linked by “inflation” (inflation and prices) in this story
- CVX Chevron
Chevron (CVX) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 26 Oct 2026 story “The Diesel Diversion: Trump’s Faulty Attempt to Blame Inflation on Ukraine.” Reason on file: Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story
United States Oil Fund (USO)
The 26 Oct 2026 story “The Diesel Diversion: Trump’s Faulty Attempt to Blame Inflation on Ukraine” names United States Oil Fund (USO) because of this story.
United States Oil Fund (USO) is on the page because United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story
Also listed, Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE): Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “diesel” (oil) in this story
Dates and price levels for United States Oil Fund (USO)
TIP traded between 103.77 and 105.67 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 105.27. USO traded between 141.82 and 169.96 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 169.55. XLE traded between 60.95 and 69.72 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 69.32.
A simple score for United States Oil Fund (USO)
46 out of 100Price not final
“The Diesel Diversion: Trump’s Faulty Attempt to Blame Inflation on Ukraine” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies. The price is not final yet.