President Donald Trump’s White House actively promoted the Freedom Fuel Network, a chain of convenience stores launched last month that has advertised gasoline at $3.47 per gallon as a tribute to the 47th presidency. The president celebrated the network’s pricing in early July, shortly before the Independence Day travel period, as consumers faced elevated fuel costs tied to international tensions. Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that the retailer was “stepping up” and predicted gas prices would return to record lows.
The ownership structure of Freedom Fuel has proven complex to establish. Business records indicate the operation involves an NFL special teams coach with the Baltimore Ravens, a GOP-connected investment professional, and two New Jersey entrepreneurs. Blue Owl Capital, an investment firm, owns approximately one-third of the 25-location network, with Trump having previously held up to $25 million in Blue Owl stock, though recent disclosures indicate he has sold most of that position. The White House denied Trump had personal involvement in the venture and stated no administration funding was provided to the operation.
Fourteen of the network’s stations are connected to brothers Shamikh and Syed Kazmi, who operate as petroleum distributors and gas station operators. Public records reveal the Kazmi brothers have faced multiple civil lawsuits and judgments. In February, a federal judge ordered them to pay over $600,000 to a fuel supplier after finding they unlawfully obtained more than 230,000 gallons of fuel from a depot they accessed without authorization. The brothers have also faced separate litigation involving 7-Eleven and BP America related to franchise operations and trademark violations.
The Freedom Fuel Network registered its Delaware incorporation on June 23, with documents signed by Randy Brown and Yoni Gontownik. Brown serves as a senior special teams coach with the Baltimore Ravens and previously served as mayor of Evesham Township in New Jersey. Gontownik is a former investment director at a Swiss commodities trading firm. Industry analysts indicated the $3.47 pricing likely represented a loss-leading promotional strategy intended to generate attention, with such tactics typically sustaining only briefly before prices normalize. Social media tracking and price-checking websites showed the advertised rates had begun increasing by this week.