Donald Trump understands something Europe seems to have forgotten: energy is not merely a commodity — it is power.
The United States is already the world’s largest oil producer and, in 2026, became the world’s largest overall oil exporter when crude and refined products are combined, challenging the traditional dominance of Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Trump is building on that advantage through his “energy dominance” strategy: encouraging production, expanding infrastructure and using trade negotiations to push American energy into foreign markets.
While others discuss the energy transition, Trump is making energy deals.
The result? America produces the oil, sells the oil — and increasingly influences where that oil flows.
In Europe, Trump is frequently dismissed as a clown — loud, simplistic and unpredictable. Yet his energy strategy suggests something very different: Trump may actually be an extraordinarily effective strategist, turning America’s energy advantage into economic and geopolitical power.