Fact Checking JD Vance and Lee Zeldin’s Biggest Lies in Michigan

REMINDER: Gas prices in Michigan have reached $3.91, the highest since Hurricane Katrina, amid the largest gas price spike since then.

Washington, DC – Earlier today, JD Vance, joined by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, spoke at a manufacturing facility in Michigan to try to spin Donald Trump’s sinking ship of a presidency to people who are now paying more than $0.90 per gallon more for gas than they were last month. The same people who have seen their residential gas prices increase by more than 10%, and their electricity prices increase by more than 5%, since Trump took office. As usual, their remarks were full of omissions, half-truths and outright lies. So here are the facts: 

JD Vance bragged that the Trump administration has created more than 2,000 manufacturing jobs in Michigan:

FACT: Trump’s war on clean energy has led to the loss or delay of more than 7,800 jobs and nearly $1.2 billion in lost investment. 

JD Vance tried to sell Trump eliminating the EV mandate as a way the administration is putting more money back in people’s pockets:

FACT: Trump’s elimination of EV affordability programs was expected to raise gas prices by 25 cents to 37 cents per gallon by 2035.

JD Vance tried to blame Biden for the fact that gas prices are skyrocketing:

FACT: Last week during his remarks in Kentucky, Vance said that gas prices are “where they are today” because of Trump.

Lee Zeldin claimed that under his leadership, the EPA protects the environment and grows the economy:

FACT: Trump’s EPA repealed the endangerment finding, effectively eliminating the federal government’s obligation to protect Americans from climate pollution.

FACT: The repeal of the endangerment finding is estimated to cost $4.7 trillion and cause an additional 77,000 premature deaths by 2055.

JD Vance claimed the Trump administration is doing everything it can to lower gas prices:

FACT: Donald Trump just last week bragged that they were making “a lot of money” on the gas price increases, and reporting shows that the oil and gas industries are looking at a $63 billion windfall from the increased prices. 

JD Vance claimed that the administration is taking steps to protect our energy economy:

FACT: Trump’s clean energy cuts are expected to increase electricity rates by up to 18% by 2035, resulting in an additional annual $170 increase in household energy bills.

FACT: Trump’s cuts to federal clean energy tax investments are expected to reduce the build-out of new clean power generating capacity by 53% to 59% from 2025 through 2035.