Oil industry executives and White House officials, rattled by President Donald Trump’s growing criticisms of the sector, are making a renewed push to head off any move by the administration to curb U.S. petroleum exports, three people familiar with the effort said.
Industry representatives said the outreach extends to officials on the White House Domestic Policy Council, the National Energy Dominance Council, the Energy Department and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and comes as Trump has shown increasing frustration with stubbornly high fuel prices that could prove a drag on Republicans’ chances to keep control of Congress in this November’s elections.
“There’s an all-hands-on-deck from industry and inside the administration to stave it off,” said an energy industry executive who was granted anonymity to describe discussions. White House officials haven’t formally pitched the idea, “but everyone knows Trump’s gonna Trump,” this person added.
The White House maintains that export restrictions are not under consideration.
