Oil Prices Rise Amid Uncertainty Over War – What You Need to Know – April 2, 2026

[0:04] This is what you need to know now. [0:06] Oil prices jump hours after President Trump [0:09] addresses the nation on Iran [0:10] as markets reel from uncertainty. [0:13] New questions at the Justice Department [0:14] after sources say President Trump is reportedly discussing [0:17] removing Attorney General Pam Bondi. [0:20] Plus, the doctor accused of trying to kill his wife [0:22] on a hiking trail takes the stand. [0:25] Candy maker Nestle is asking for the public's help [0:27] to track down whoever pulled off [0:29] a massive heist of Kit Kats. [0:31] And a priceless golden artifact [0:33] is back where it belongs after a shocking museum theft [0:36] that stunned the art world. [0:38] We have much more of what you need to know now. [0:41] I'm Rachel Scott from ABC News here at the White House. [0:43] It is Thursday, April 2nd. [0:45] This is what you need to know. [0:46] We'll show you the weather threat for 20 million Americans [0:49] and the gas station where prices are nearly $10 per gallon. [0:53] But first, the big story. [0:55] President Trump saying Iran is really no longer a threat, [0:58] claiming the US has achieved swift, overwhelming victories. [1:02] But in his first national address, [1:03] since the conflict began, [1:05] the president offered few new details to ending the war, [1:08] other than promising to, quote, finish the job very fast. [1:11] Meanwhile, tensions remain high in the Middle East. [1:14] This morning, the US embassy in Baghdad [1:17] warned Iran and allied groups could target Americans. [1:20] It comes after the kidnapping [1:22] of an American journalist in Baghdad. [1:24] Matt Rivers is in Qatar. [1:25] Rachel, the president's address to the nation last night [1:28] was supposed to calm oil markets. [1:29] It did not have that effect. [1:30] In fact, oil prices up once again today. [1:32] We could be looking at higher prices. [1:33] We could be looking at higher prices. We could be looking at higher prices. [1:33] We could be looking at higher prices. [1:34] North of $4.25 per gallon in the United States [1:37] in the next couple of weeks if this continues. [1:39] This is having a major effect. [1:41] In the president's speech last night, [1:42] at least so far, not having the desired effect [1:44] to lower those prices. [1:46] The president asking other countries [1:47] to come to the Strait of Hormuz [1:48] to try and secure passage here, [1:50] but we've seen no movement as such. [1:52] The Iranians very much in control of the Strait of Hormuz. [1:55] The Revolutionary Guard Corps, [1:56] the heart of Iran's military, [1:58] saying that they have no plans to release control of the Strait [2:01] because they know the leverage that it puts, again, [2:03] against the White House, [2:04] the political pressure it has in the United States. [2:06] Meanwhile, a new warning from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad [2:09] saying that all Americans in Iraq [2:11] should leave that country as quickly as possible [2:14] because of specific threats to Americans [2:16] over the next 24 to 48 hours. [2:18] Next, the major shakeup [2:20] that could be coming to the Trump administration. [2:22] Sources say the president is considering [2:24] removing Pam Bondi as attorney general. [2:27] Selena Wang has more. [2:29] Rachel, sources say that President Trump [2:30] is expressing dissatisfaction that the Department of Justice [2:33] has not done enough to pursue his political opponents [2:37] and enforce his priorities. [2:39] That is sparking questions [2:40] about whether Pam Bondi should be replaced. [2:43] Those discussions have reportedly included [2:45] potential successors such as the EPA administrator, [2:48] Lee Zeldin, or Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanch. [2:52] It comes amid criticism of Bondi's handling [2:54] of highly sensitive matters, [2:56] including the release of files from the Justice Department [2:58] connected to the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, [3:01] and her combative testimony [3:03] before Congress. [3:04] The Dow, the Dow right now is over, [3:09] the Dow is over $50,000. [3:11] I don't know why you're laughing. [3:12] You're a great stock trader, as I hear, Raskin. [3:15] In response to reports the president was considering [3:17] firing his attorney general, [3:19] Trump called Bondi a wonderful person [3:20] who is doing a good job. [3:22] It's not yet clear if Bondi will be removed from her role. [3:26] The Supreme Court appears poised to reject [3:28] President Trump's bid to limit birthright citizenship. [3:31] The high court heard arguments questioning whether [3:33] the 14th amendment's guarantee applies to children born [3:37] in the United States to undocumented immigrants. [3:39] Chief Justice John Roberts pressed the government's lawyer [3:42] on whether the Constitution allows changing [3:44] a centuries-old understanding. [3:47] President Trump attended the oral arguments, [3:49] becoming the first sitting president to witness [3:51] the Supreme Court in action. [3:53] President Trump telling an Easter lunch afterward [3:55] he's unhappy with the court. [3:58] Supreme Court's not been acting very well, actually. [4:01] A lawyer for the ACLU told reports, [4:02] U told reporters they could not be more confident as they left the high court. A decision is expected sometime in June. Now to the historic mission in space. The Artemis crew is orbiting Earth, testing out systems and the Orion spacecraft. NASA says some minor hiccups have been resolved. Artemis to Commander Reed Wiseman addressed the world hours after liftoff yesterday, offering an early glimpse into life beyond Earth. It's an amazing right uphill to move far. The crew will spend 10 [4:43] days in orbit, eventually performing a flyby of the moon, helping pave the way for NASA's goal of returning humans to the moon and eventually sending astronauts to Mars. Back here on Earth, forecasters are warning of potentially damaging winds and tornadoes with more than 20 million Americans in the storm zone today, stretching from Missouri to Michigan. It comes as record heat and little snow are raising concerns across the West. Colorado snowpack was the lowest since 1941 and snowpack in the Sierras [5:13] was the second lowest on record, prompting concern about drought and a long fire season. In Philadelphia, a small plane on a training flight made a crash landing in a park, coming to a stop after slamming into a tree. A flight instructor and a student pilot were on board when the plane's engine lost power over the Delaware River. They could not make it to a nearby airport where the flight school is based. Both people suffered serious injuries. The cause is now under investigation. And we have much more of what you need to know. Stay with us. [5:43] Here's your daily briefing. Other big stories we are following on ABC News. The Hawaii doctor accused of trying to kill his wife during a hike last year has testified in his own defense. Gearhart Koenig has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges. On the stand yesterday, Koenig said things got violent during their hike when they talked about an alleged affair his wife had with a co-worker. He claims she tried to push him over the edge of the trail, then hit him with a rock. She's hitting me and I'm like blocking and then I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, [6:23] my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, [6:54] oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, [7:26] oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. [7:56] I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, oh, my God.