Trump’s war with Iran doubles the cost of his rides in ‘the Beast’

Even President Trump’s car has to be filled up — and the cost of doing so has soared since he entered office. The war Trump launched against Iran in February has helped trigger the highest diesel prices ever seen in the US, a fact which is painfully obvious to every Republican in the country facing midterm elections next month. Most commented 1 ‘Without violence, no one pays attention’: France returns to barricades Europe 185 comments 2 Deadly strike on Ukraine homes ‘was birthday gift for Putin’ Russia-Ukraine war 73 comments The rise in the price of fuel for America’s trucks, vans and heavy cars has unavoidable consequences for everyone’s wallet, including the president’s. In the month of his inauguration in 2017, diesel cost an average of $2.58 per US gallon (52 pence per litre). Now, the cost is comfortably over $6 a gallon. Although oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz again, Iranian strikes on Middle Eastern refineries and Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian plants have forced countries to consider emergency diesel supplies as prices rise. Advertisement Trump travels in a nine-tonne diesel-guzzling armoured car known as the Beast — the sheer weight of it means an estimated fuel efficiency of a dismal five miles per gallon. Although the exact fuel capacity of the Beast is not known, it is rumoured to be 40 gallons — double that of a large passenger car. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images His most common use for the motorcade is for the half-hour drive from the White House to Joint Base Andrews, the Maryland home of Air Force One. The cost of diesel for that journey alone was around $11 when Trump started his second term, but has risen to almost $20. How to drive like a world leader Another common route from the White House for Trump sees him drive to one of his golf courses, the Trump National Golf Course in Virginia . By some counts, he has been there hundreds of times as president . The journey is a little longer and the diesel cost for the Beast will be around $41. In February, before the war with Iran began, the cost was just $24. Advertisement On occasions where storms stop the presidential helicopter from setting off, and Trump insists on going ahead, the Secret Service is forced to take an unusually long trip by motorcade. Top stories 1 How American billionaires are shaping the future of warfare Technology Top stories 1 What would UK look like with proportional representation voting? Politics 2 China came for Congo’s gold. Then Ebola struck Africa 3 Our tower block caught fire — why are we still paying £1,500 a month? Mortgages 4 My daughter works part-time — can she rescue her retirement? Ask Times Money 5 Three popular money rules that you should rethink Saving & Investing This took place last Thursday, when Trump insisted on making it from a rally in Denton, Texas, to his second event in Durant, Oklahoma. The motorcade approached 100 miles per hour in the 90-mile drive. The diesel for the Beast to make that drive along would have cost at least $140 — a far cry from the $80 cost if the same trip had been made in January 2025. The figures are still pennies for a motorcade which will include at least two identical versions of the Beast, each of which costs an estimated $1.5m to produce. War and peace newsletter Tom Newton-Dunn’s concise guide to global conflict – with reasons for optimism. Sign up with one click You’ve successfully signed up to the War and peace newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred. Please use the link below. War and peace newsletter Explore our newsletters Specially designed essentially as an impenetrable tank with a Cadillac coating, the Beast features multiple layers of steel, aluminium, ceramic and armour, eight-inch-thick ballistic glass and doors weighing as much as an airliner’s that can be electrified in case of attack. Its other features include a specialised fridge with blood matching Trump’s, the ability to deploy oil slicks from the rear and all the equipment necessary to authorise the launch of a nuclear weapon.