President Donald Trump met with top oil and gas executives at the White House on Tuesday to address the energy crisis sparked by the Iran war [1]. The meeting included Chevron CEO Mike Wirth and was hosted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Vice President Vance, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner also attended, a White House source said [1].
Officials and executives discussed maintaining the current blockade of the Strait of Hormuz for months if necessary. A White House official said they reviewed "steps we could take to continue the current blockade for months if needed and minimize impact on American consumers" [1]. The Strait of Hormuz handles about one fourth of the world’s seaborne oil, and its de facto closure has driven prices to multiyear highs [1].
The talks also focused on domestic oil and gas production, developments in Venezuela, oil futures, natural gas supplies, and shipping logistics [1]. High U.S. gasoline prices remain a concern for Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill. The average price per gallon is $4.23 [1]. To ease price pressures, the White House has waived the Jones Act, enabling more flexible shipping options [1].
The White House official noted that “The president meets with energy executives frequently to get their feedback on domestic and international energy markets” [1]. The meeting was part of ongoing efforts to manage energy supply and prices amid the geopolitical tensions affecting global oil flows.
On Tuesday, the administration focused on balancing the strategic goal of sustaining pressure on Iran with the need to limit higher fuel costs for U.S. consumers [1].