President Donald Trump criticized Chevron CEO Mike Wirth for failing to mention the Trump administration's support for fossil fuel policies during an interview, and demanded that oil companies lower gasoline prices at the pump "immediately!"

Driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Iran war, surging crude oil prices, and soaring refining profit margins, Chevron posted a record second-quarter profit of $12 billion, equivalent to roughly $132 million per day.

Trump stated on Truth Social that Wirth listed "all the reasons why the company is doing so well" in the interview, but "the only thing he deliberately forgot to mention is that without the genius foresight, strength, and stability of the Trump administration, the oil industry, and even our country itself, would have been finished!"

Mike Wirth frequently visits the White House and is reportedly on good terms with Trump. As the only US oil giant to continue operating in Venezuela during the sanctions, Chevron is best positioned to benefit from the Trump administration's capture of former leader Nicolas Maduro and its push to reopen the country's oil industry.

Trump stated in his post: "They once kicked Mike and Chevron out of Venezuela, but now they are bigger and stronger than ever, waiting to make a fortune!"

As the Middle East conflict enters its fifth month, the average US retail price for gasoline rose back above $4 per gallon in July. Wirth and other top oil company executives warned last week that significant refining capacity has been shut down in recent months, so fuel prices could remain high even if crude oil prices fall.

Wirth stated during an analyst call last Friday: "Entering the third quarter, refined product prices will face some upward pressure, and that pressure may persist."

Despite this, Trump still wants oil companies to lower prices for consumers, especially ahead of the November midterm elections. Trump stated in his post: "The same goes for other oil companies... Lower the (retail!) oil prices for consumers immediately!"

In a Fox interview, Wirth stated that Chevron achieved record production and refinery processing volumes in the US during the second quarter, at a time when "the global energy system is under pressure, and demand from markets and customers for supply has never been higher."