Trump Admin Hands Out Oil Like Candy, Refuses to Play Export Restriction
KEY POINTS
- â˘The Trump administration announced Thursday that oil and gas export restrictions are not currently being considered.
- â˘Columbia University energy scholars criticized the idea of restrictions, warning of economic and geopolitical fallout.
- â˘Officials have taken various measures like releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and considering waivers on Iranian oil sanctions.
As U.S. gas prices surged nearly 90 cents a gallon since some vaguely defined conflict kicked off, the Trump administration decided to keep exporting oil because restricting it was 'not under consideration'âan announcement as clear as mud sent by cryptic email Thursday. Meanwhile, Columbia Universityâs pandemic-level experts warned that slapping export restrictions on this energy party would 'likely backfire,' kind of like bringing a water gun to a flamethrower fight. Goldman Sachs noticed markets priced in export fears, keeping domestic crude sitting lower than Brent's global swagger, but by Thursday afternoon these two cousins suddenly got closerâprobably a love story. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted future moves might waive sanctions on Iranian oil, because apparently, when youâre drowning in energy drama, why not order more weird guests to the party?
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(1 of 3)The Trump administration refuses to stop sending oil abroad despite near $1 gas hikes, apparently betting we like empty wallets with a side of geopolitical headache. Export restrictions? Nopeâletâs just waiver and waiver till we canât waiver no more.
Watching the administration finesse oil exports like a DJ at a chaotic party: keep it spinning, just ignore the price spike drop dance.
They say export limits would 'backfire' but letting prices climb unchecked is basically blowing up your own gas station for fun.
Source: Axios | Published: 3/19/2026 | Author: Ben Geman
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