New fuel chain sells cheaper gas as ownership details remain limited
Freedom Fuel Network stations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are selling gas below averages while public records disclose little about the company.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
A new fuel retailer promoted by President Donald Trump and the White House is selling gasoline well below prevailing averages in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The low prices have drawn attention because public filings reveal little about who owns or finances Freedom Fuel Network.
The White House said on X that the first Freedom Fuel Network station had opened in Philadelphia and was charging $3.47 a gallon, a price it tied to Trump as the 47th president. The stations appeared shortly before the July 4 travel period, when many drivers hit the road for holiday trips.
AAA data cited on July 10 put the national average gasoline price at $3.88 a gallon. AAA also listed Pennsylvania’s average at just under $4, while California’s average was $5.34, more than 35% above the Freedom Fuel price for regular gasoline.
Trump used the rollout to argue that fuel costs are falling. In a Truth Social post, he said oil prices and pump prices were dropping and predicted gasoline would return to the low levels seen before what he called the U.S. “excursion” in Iran.
Gasoline prices rose after the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began at the end of February, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration data cited by Fortune. The average price reached $4.63 a gallon in May, below the 2022 record average of $5.02 but still a sharp increase from the start of the year.
By July 10, prices had retreated from the May peak but remained nearly 34% above January levels, Fortune reported, citing EIA data. Higher fuel costs have also added pressure to inflation this year, according to Fortune.
The pricing has raised questions because fuel retailing generally leaves little room for discounts. The National Association of Convenience Stores says gas stations make about 13 cents a gallon in net profit, a narrow margin compared with the 40-to-50-cent gap between Freedom Fuel’s posted price and broader averages.
The White House says the company is acting on its own. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Fortune that Freedom Fuel is a patriotic business lowering pump prices for drivers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in response to Trump’s push for cheaper gasoline.
Another White House official told CNN that the administration is not involved with the company and has not provided funding. The official also said no outside entity or person is subsidizing the lower prices, and described the retailer as an example for others.
Public records give only a limited view of the business. Delaware Division of Corporations records show Freedom Fuel Network LLC was formed in late June, shortly before the public rollout, but those records list only basic registration information such as the name, formation date and registered agent.
The Delaware filing does not identify owners, managers or members. A federal trademark application filed July 1 for “Freedom Fuel Network” covers retail fuel and convenience store services and lists Freedom Fuel Network LLC as the applicant.
The company’s website lists 25 station locations and includes a contact page. Fortune reported that the site does not include an “about us” section or further information on ownership, management, financing or long-term plans, and that Freedom Fuel Network did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.