California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is trying to blame Chevron for the absolutely obscene prices for gas in his state. So Chevron started putting up signs in some locations, clarifying just how politicians drove up the price.
While big companies are often corrupt, it is also true that government regulation frequently has a role either in boosting monopolistic success or sabotaging prices and jobs. Democrats have been making bogeymen out of the big oil companies for years, but whenever there is a drastic increase in gas prices, you can be pretty sure that Dems have something to do with it.
Newsom’s office released the following highly dishonest piece of propaganda on May 21, Thursday, ahead of the Memorial Day holiday weekend:
Californians, if you’re hitting the road this holiday weekend, be sure to AVOID Chevron.
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) May 21, 2026
Pro tip: unbranded gas comes from the same refineries, storage tanks, and pipelines, and it meets the same state standards to keep your engine running clean, even if it doesn’t have a fancy… pic.twitter.com/FMTnNHE0Bn
The governor’s office lectured, “Big Oil is already making billions off Trump’s Iran War; don’t let them rip you off even more by overpaying for the brand name.” As you can see, he particularly singled out Chevron out of all the name-brand companies.
The regular media propaganda is that Big Oil is making massive amounts of money off the conflict with Iran — which has been stalled for weeks as negotiations continue — not because military craft need fuel but simply because gas prices went up around the world. But considering how the Iranian regime has been blocking and terrorizing the Strait of Hormuz, necessitating alternative and longer shipping routes, and oil stockpiles are disappearing, the reality is this conflict will have bigger implications for oil profits in the long-term. But the mainstream media and Democrat politicians are never balanced in their assessment of oil.
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Leaving aside the question of whether some oil companies are making short-term profits in general, let us turn specifically to California. Professor Michael Mische from the University of Southern California found in a 2025 study that Democrat policies such as high taxes, woke environmental regulations, refinery closures, and a business-unfriendly atmosphere drive higher gas prices. Newsom, not Chevron, is the culprit.
California Chevron customers noted that the company seems to be tired of taking the blame:
Chevron has installed new signs on pumps across California blaming Sacramento Democrats — not President Trump — for sky-high gas prices. Signs read:
— Parler (@parler_social) May 21, 2026
“Sacramento policies did this. Now you pay more.”
“California politicians are choosing foreign oil and fuels over local jobs and… pic.twitter.com/0iTZNAWyLm
Chevron spokesman Ross Allen told the New York Post that the company has indeed been putting up signs at California stations, including Sacramento and San Diego, to educate their customers on the facts politicians want to hide. Describing politicians as picking consumers’ pockets, Allen continued, “These environmental fees, taxes, and regulations might be small individually, but cumulatively they are making the cost of living in California much more expensive. These are policy choices, it doesn’t have to be like this.”
Newsom is using the usual Democrat cop-out of blaming businesses for his horrible decisions, when the businesses, as much as their customers, are actually the victims of the policies.
