Trump to meet with oil refiners amid stubborn gas prices

President Trump is expected to meet with fuel refiners and distributors Tuesday as gasoline prices remain stubbornly high and are expected to be a major midterm issue.

The president is expected to discuss how to expand U.S. refining capacity as part of an effort to lower gasoline prices, according to a White House official.

Small, medium and large refineries and distributors are expected to participate. Also expected to attend are Doug Burgum, interior secretary; Chris Wright, energy secretary; and Jarrod Agen, the National Energy Dominance Council’s executive director.

The meeting comes after the president has repeatedly urged energy companies to lower their prices in order to provide relief to consumers. He has accused energy firms of gouging consumers and has directed the Justice Department to investigate.

Prices have been elevated since earlier this year as the U.S.-Iran conflict has scrambled global supplies.

Reuters reported that ExxonMobil, the U.S.’s third-largest refiner, was not invited to the meeting. The White House did not share a list of attendees, and an Exxon spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this year Trump criticized Exxon after the company’s CEO said that Venezuela was currently “uninvestible.”

On Monday, the average U.S. gasoline price was about $4.08 per gallon, according to AAA , nearly 90 cents higher than where prices were this time last year.