President Trump is scheduled to convene with fuel refiners and distributors on Tuesday as gasoline prices continue to hover near record highs, a trend that is shaping up to be a pivotal issue in the upcoming midterm elections. The meeting, confirmed by a White House official, is part of the administration's broader effort to expand domestic refining capacity and ultimately bring down costs at the pump.
The session will bring together representatives from small, medium, and large refining and distribution companies. Also expected to attend are Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Jarrod Agen, who serves as the director of the National Energy Dominance initiative. The White House has not released a full attendee list, and an ExxonMobil spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment, though reports indicate the company was not invited.
The meeting comes amid ongoing pressure from the president on energy firms to reduce prices, which he argues are the result of gouging. Trump has previously called for the Justice Department to investigate potential price manipulation and has publicly criticized energy executives for not doing enough to ease the burden on American families.
Gasoline prices have remained stubbornly elevated since earlier this year, largely due to disruptions in global supply triggered by the U.S.-Iran conflict. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline stood at about $4.08 on Monday, nearly 90 cents higher than the same time last year.
Refining capacity in the United States has been a point of contention, with several facilities closing in recent years and no major new refineries built in decades. The administration sees expanding capacity as a key lever to lower prices, though industry experts note that any new construction would take years to come online.
The president's meeting with refiners is part of a broader strategy to address energy costs, which have become a political liability for the White House. With midterms approaching, Republicans are expected to hammer Democrats over inflation, and gas prices are a central part of that narrative. Meanwhile, the administration is also navigating foreign policy challenges, including ongoing tensions with Iran, which have further complicated energy markets.
ExxonMobil's absence from the meeting is notable, given Trump's earlier criticism of the company's CEO after he described Venezuela as "uninvestible." The snub could signal a strained relationship between the White House and one of the nation's largest refiners, though the administration has not commented on the matter.
As the meeting unfolds, analysts will be watching for any concrete policy announcements, such as expedited permitting for refinery expansions or waivers on federal fuel standards. For now, drivers continue to feel the pinch, and the political stakes remain high.
