President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about elevated gas prices before departing for Las Vegas, where he will promote his tax agenda.
“They’re not very high,” Trump said outside the White House Thursday.
When a reporter pushed back, the billionaire president responded: “If you look at the stock market, it is up. Everything is doing really well.”
The national average cost for a gallon of gasoline stands at $4.09, up from $2.92 before the Iran war broke out, according to AAA. In Nevada, prices are pushing $5 a gallon.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the president reignited his ongoing feud with Pope Leo over the war in Iran — a conflict the pontiff has repeatedly condemned.
"The Pope has to understand Iran, very simple, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” the president said. “The world would be in great danger."
After touching down in Sin City, Trump is scheduled to join a roundtable discussion and then deliver a downtown hotel speech centered on his “no tax on tips” policy.
Earlier on Thursday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced questions from lawmakers in back-to-back hearings over his vaccine agenda and planned budget cuts.
Our live coverage has ended
Our live coverage has ended. Here’s a recap of today’s events:
Brendan Rascius16 April 2026 21:13
Trump says fighting will resume in Iran if a peace agreement is not reached during the ceasefire
President Trump said that hostilities will restart in Iran if a peace agreement is not made before the two-week ceasefire expires.
"If there's no deal, would you be willing to extend the ceasefire or will fighting resume?" a reporter asked the president outside the White House on Thursday afternoon.
“If there's no deal, fighting resumes,” Trump said.
Brendan Rascius16 April 2026 21:02
Kennedy says HHS employees fired by DOGE failed to protect public health
During his second congressional hearing on Thursday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that the department employees purged by DOGE last year were fired because they failed to protect public health.
“It was their job to protect us, and they did not do it. They failed at their job," Kennedy said.
“If this was private industry, they would have all been fired,” he added. “We did what we had to do to change the culture at these agencies.”
Brendan Rascius16 April 2026 20:57
Trump says gas prices are 'not very high'
Outside the White House on Thursday afternoon, President Donald Trump said gas prices are “not very high.”
A reporter asked him how much longer Americans will continue to see elevated prices at the pump.
“Well, they're not very high,” the president responded.
The reporter noted that they are still $4 a gallon.
“That's what ABC says, but the stock market is up,” Trump shot back. “Everything is doing really well.”
On Thursday, the average nationwide price for a gallon of gasoline stood at $4.09, up from $3.16 one year ago, according to AAA.
Brendan Rascius16 April 2026 20:28
Kennedy says Trump will announce his CDC nominee this week
Kennedy said he believes President Trump will announce his nominee to lead the CDC this week.
"I expect that President Trump, I believe that he is going to release the nominations of the new team at CDC, including the new CDC administrator or director, this week,” he told the committee. “hopefully today or tomorrow.”
Brendan Rascius16 April 2026 20:22
Democrat asks Kennedy about his stance on raw milk
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, grilled Kennedy over his advocacy of raw milk following a multi-state outbreak of E. Coli infections linked to cheese derived from raw milk.
“I know you have been a staunch advocate of raw milk…despite federal health agencies warning of safety risks,” DeLauro said.
Kennedy noted that the FDA does not regulate raw milk, and that oversight is done at the state level.
“You are the head of HHS,” the lawmaker responded. “If raw milk has the ability to put 9 people in the hospital…is there not some moral responsibility or compunction to say don’t drink raw milk?”
Brendan Rascius16 April 2026 20:15
Kennedy's second hearing is underway
Kennedy is now addressing the House Appropriations Committee, marking his second appearance before Congress today.
Brendan Rascius16 April 2026 20:02
Trump to travel to Las Vegas today to promote his tax policies
President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to Las Vegas on Thursday, one day after Tax Day, to promote his tax policies.
The White House said the president will participate in a roundtable discussion and make a speech at a hotel downtown.
Brendan Rascius16 April 2026 19:35
Trump says he's inviting leaders of Israel and Lebanon to White House after ceasefire is announced
Shortly before noon on Thursday, President Donald Trump announced that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire.
“I will be inviting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, to the White House for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, a very long time ago,” he wrote on Truth Social
Brendan Rascius16 April 2026 19:09
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