Creative Planning Chief Market Strategist Charlie Bilello criticized President Donald Trump in posts on X on Monday, August 31, 2026, arguing that rising energy costs conflict with campaign promises to reduce prices and avoid new wars. Bilello said the national average gasoline price exceeded $4 a gallon every day in August for the first time, while his data showed Brent crude up 24%, WTI crude up 28% and gasoline up 37% since the end of February. Diesel prices increased 49% and jet fuel 53% since the war began, while European natural gas costs rose 120%. He also challenged Trump’s claim that an average of 30 ships a night were moving through the Strait of Hormuz, sharing a chart showing a sharp decline in crude shipments since the war began. The criticism came amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington after U.S. missile strikes and Iran’s subsequent attack on U.S. bases in Jordan.