Senior advisers to President Donald Trump are exploring options to reduce gasoline prices after military strikes on Iran set off sharp swings in global oil markets and pushed fuel costs higher for American drivers.
According to Politico, Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, has instructed administration officials to develop proposals that could ease energy costs and present them to the president in the Oval Office. Energy industry executives familiar with the discussions said the White House is actively seeking ideas to bring relief at the pump.
The White House is “looking under every rock for ideas on improving energy prices, especially gasoline prices,” one executive said.
The effort follows U.S. military strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks by Tehran targeting energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, developments that have fueled a surge in oil prices worldwide.
Crude oil climbed by more than $10 per barrel in the days after the attacks, a spike that pushed gasoline prices in the United States to their highest point since Trump returned to office last year.
Officials involved in shaping energy policy, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright, are now under significant pressure to identify measures that could steady the market and reassure consumers, according to people familiar with internal administration discussions.
The administration has already rolled out several actions intended to safeguard global oil shipments and stabilize supply.
President Trump recently announced that the U.S. military will escort and protect commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran threatened oil tankers traveling through the vital maritime passage.
In addition, the White House directed the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. to step in with insurance coverage for ships whose policies were withdrawn as the fighting in the region intensified.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration believes the president’s moves against Iran will ultimately strengthen the stability of energy markets by preventing Tehran from threatening one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.
“I think it speaks to why this action was so necessary,” Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday. “Ultimately, the energy industry is going to benefit from the president’s actions with respect to Iran.”
One proposal currently being examined is a temporary suspension of the federal gasoline tax. However, such a measure would require approval from Congress and might not immediately reduce prices if retailers do not pass the savings on to consumers.
Despite the recent jump in fuel costs, Trump has dismissed concerns about the short-term impact, arguing that prices will eventually fall once the conflict subsides.
“If we have a little high oil prices for a little while, but as soon as this ends, those prices are going to drop, lower than even before,” Trump said earlier this week.
Energy analysts say fuel prices have climbed quickly since hostilities began.
According to AAA and industry analysts, the nationwide average price for regular gasoline rose above $3.25 per gallon this week, increasing by more than 28 cents within just a few days.
Oil markets have surged as traders respond to the possibility that supply could be disrupted across the Middle East.
Iran’s location near the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow maritime chokepoint through which more than one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes — has intensified fears of further instability in global energy flows.
The ongoing violence has already slowed tanker traffic and temporarily shut down some oil production in neighboring Gulf states.
Analysts caution that prices could continue rising if the conflict widens, though they note that current fuel costs remain well below the historic highs reached in 2022, when gasoline prices nationwide climbed past $5 per gallon.
{Matzav.com}
Chaim V’Chessed continues to receive a high volume of inquiries from Israeli residents stranded abroad – who wish to return home – and from those urgently seeking to leave Israel. Below is the most current information available.
Returning to Israel
Close to 100,000 residents of Israel are believed to be stranded abroad due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. This morning, the first two so-called “repatriation flights” landed in Israel – one from Athens and one from Rome, bringing Israelis home.
At present, these flights are extremely limited. There are flights by El Al, Israir and Arkia from select destinations, on which passengers who already held tickets are being placed – or offered seats – at the airlines’ discretion. Airlines will reach out to their passengers to place them on flights. It is extremely difficult – if not impossible – for passengers to reach the airlines on their own.
There are very limited spaces available for travelers who do not hold tickets or who held tickets on other airlines.
During the previous round of conflict, repatriation flights were initially limited to Israeli citizens only. Chaim V’Chessed advocated strongly on behalf of Israeli residents who do not hold Israeli citizenship, and will do so again if this arises again. At this time, we do not yet know whether citizenship restrictions will again become an issue.
For those unable to secure space on these very limited flights, the only current alternative is to enter Israel via Egypt – essentially reversing the route being used by those exiting the country.
In addition to the option of flying into Sharm el-Sheikh Airport on regularly scheduled commercial flights, Israir is operating flights to Taba Airport from various destinations. Passengers can then enter Israel at the Taba Broder Crossing.
Leaving Israel
Currently, no outbound flights are permitted to depart from Israel. The Israeli government has announced that limited outbound flights are expected to begin departing Israel on Sunday.
However, several critical points must be emphasized:
Full operational details have not yet been released.
It is likely – though not yet confirmed – that available seats will again be offered primarily to those who previously held reservations. Even if these flights begin as announced, they will certainly not provide a solution for the huge number of people currently seeking to leave.
Ongoing Options
At present, the best functioning route out of Israel remains travel through Egypt, departing from:
Israir is operating a significant number of flights out of Taba Airport to various destinations.
Various agencies are offering complete packages for departing Israel via Egypt, including transportation to the airports in Egypt. These include Lalechet and Emes Travel.
As with all current developments, this remains subject to change.
Travel Through Egypt – What You Need to Know
Many have asked whether it is safe or recommended to travel via Egypt.
It is important to note:
Without offering any recommendation, we can report the following practical realities:
The journey is arduous.
These itineraries are long, complex, and often grueling. Nevertheless, many have completed them successfully, and for now, this remains the most viable mass option.
Travel Through Jordan – What You Need to Know
It is possible to exit Israel via Jordan and continue onward to other international destinations. However, during the June conflict with Iran, many travelers reported experiencing greater hostility and difficulty from Jordanian authorities than from Egyptian authorities.
It remains to be seen how this route will function in the current situation.
Option 1 – Amman (Queen Alia International Airport)
Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport offers numerous global connections, including nonstop flights to the United States.
Under normal circumstances, this airport is most easily accessed via the Allenby Bridge Crossing. However, this border crossing crossing is largely closed due to the ongoing conflict, making travel to Amman much more difficult at this time.
Option 2 – Via Eilat to Aqaba
Travelers may instead travel south to Eilat and cross into Jordan via the Yitzhak Rabin Crossing.
Arkia is scheduled to begin operating special flights from Aqaba as of Sunday, providing an additional departure option for those seeking to leave the region.
{Matzav.com}
President Trump announced that he has removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her post, marking the first cabinet-level change of his second term.
The decision came shortly after Noem’s appearance before Congress earlier this week, during which she testified that Trump had authorized $220 million in advertising campaigns featuring the former South Dakota governor, a revelation that reportedly angered the president.
Trump revealed the personnel change in a post on Truth Social, where he also named the official who will take over leadership of the Department of Homeland Security.
“I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected United States Senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), effective March 31, 2026,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
In the same statement, Trump said that Noem would not be leaving the administration entirely but would instead transition into a different role focused on security issues in the Western Hemisphere.
“The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at ‘Homeland.’”
Trump devoted the rest of his statement to commending Mullin and highlighting his qualifications for the position.
{Matzav.com}
Police in the United Kingdom briefly detained and questioned a chassidishe man who dressed as a police officer as part of his Purim costume, after officers initially believed he might be impersonating law enforcement.
WATCH:
https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/VIDEO-2026-03-05-01-52-25.mp4{Matzav.com}
A brief but memorable encounter on Purim in Yerushalayim left several bochurim with a powerful impression of Rav Asher Arielli’s humility and sincerity.
Each year on Purim, Rav Asher Arielli receives many visitors at his home for hours of kabolas kahal. During those hours, people stream in to greet him, deliver mishloach manos, and receive a bracha.
This year, two bochurim arrived somewhat late and stood outside the door debating whether they should still go in. While they were hesitating, another man who had come to collect tzedakah knocked on the door.
To their surprise, the one who opened the door was Rav Asher himself.
Realizing the opportunity, the bochurim immediately introduced themselves and presented Rav Asher with their mishloach manos.
They then asked if he could give them a Birkas Kohein. Rav Asher gently declined, explaining that he is not a kohein.
The bochurim, who were Chassidish, responded that even rebbes who are not kohanim sometimes give such a bracha.
Rav Asher responded by directing them to go up one flight in the building, explaining that a kohein lives there and that they should ask him instead.
Seeing that the bochurim were hesitant, he reassured them and urged them to go, telling them that the man upstairs is “a true oveid Hashem.”
Before they left, Rav Asher gave them a bracha that they should be able to learn and grow in their limud haTorah.
Those present were struck by the simplicity and humility of the interaction, a moment that many said captured Rav Asher Arielli’s character in a remarkable way.
{Matzav.com}
