President Donald Trump sat down with oil refining executives at the White House Tuesday to drive gas prices down — just hours after American forces struck Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz for the second time in three days.
Gas prices hit $4.10 per gallon nationally Tuesday. That’s up from $2.98 the day before Iran’s regime launched this war on Feb. 28. Prices have stayed above $4 every single day since August started, according to AAA. Iran has blockaded the strait — the world’s most critical oil chokepoint, carrying a fifth of global oil supply — since the conflict began.
The 1:30 p.m. ET closed-door meeting in the Cabinet Room included Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, National Energy Dominance Council Executive Director Jarrod Agen, and a mix of small, medium, and large refiners and distributors, according to CNBC.
“We are unleashing American Energy Dominance!”
Exxon Mobil — the third-largest U.S. refiner — did not receive an invitation, Reuters reported. The White House has not yet released a formal readout. Trump has publicly accused refiners of price gouging and directed the Justice Department to investigate.
A White House official told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Trump met with “nearly a dozen small, mid-sized, and large refiners and distributors to discuss expanding U.S. refining capacity.” They discussed “concrete ways to expand capacity, including regulation changes, faster permitting, and additional investments.”
The industry leaders “expressed their appreciation” to Trump “for reversing the Biden Administration’s disastrous energy policies and unleashing American energy.”
Trump posted on Truth Social after the meeting: “We are unleashing American Energy Dominance!”
The attached White House document said Trump is “laser-focused on ensuring his successful energy dominance agenda translates into the most cost savings possible at the pump for consumers.”
“As part of that commitment, the President will meet with industry leaders to collaborate on the best ways to increase refining capacity, further unleash American energy dominance across the entire supply chain, and bring down prices for the American people,” the document reads.
Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command struck targets in Iran Tuesday over attempted attacks on shipping. Iranian state media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Konarak, Chabahar, Jask, Sirik, and Lavan, according to BBC News.
Iran’s army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the U.S. would face “severe punishment” for the strikes, Al Jazeera reported.
Tuesday’s strikes followed a U.S. attack Sunday on rocket launchers on Larak Island that CENTCOM said were preparing to lay sea mines — the first American strike on Iran since late July. Iran responded with missiles at U.S. bases in Jordan and targeted an air base in the United Arab Emirates with drones, NBC News reported.
“If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level.”
Trump doesn’t plan to let Iran off easy.
“If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level,” Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday.
Two tankers came under fire Monday night on the southern route out of the Strait of Hormuz, east of Oman, according to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Center. Brent crude jumped 3.8% to $94.36 a barrel Tuesday afternoon following the U.S. strikes, Quartz reported.
Iran’s regime is testing the wrong president. Trump already proved he doesn’t lose to bullies — and patriots know how he handles threats to American wallets and American security.
