Trump to meet oil refiners over gas prices

US President Donald Trump will meet oil refining executives on Tuesday as his administration tries to bring down gas prices, the White House said Monday.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said Trump would meet industry leaders to discuss ways to increase refining capacity, expand US energy supply and lower prices for Americans.

A White House official also said the talks were timely as the United States increases Venezuelan crude flow to US refineries.

The White House did not name the companies expected to attend, but said the meeting would include a mix of small, medium and large refiners and distributors.

The planned meeting comes after Trump announced a deal that he said would give the United States majority control of 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan petroleum reserves. The White House is seeking to offset disruption to global oil supplies caused by the Iran war, in which Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz closed and the United States has maintained a naval counter-blockade of Iran.

Republicans fear voters could punish them in November's midterm elections after high fuel prices raised the cost of living for Americans.