U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright speaks during a press conference discussing fertilizer policy at USDA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 19, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee
Energy Secretary Chris Wright admitted during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee budget hearing he was unaware the U.S. had been secretly seizing Iranian oil tankers.
Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH) methodically exposed the knowledge gap by playing a video clip of President Donald Trump announcing the covert operation that same morning. When Wright initially deflected questions about taking Iranian oil, Sykes pressed him directly, asking if he knew the U.S. was taking millions of gallons of oil from Iran.
Wright admitted, "I'm unaware."
Sykes then played Trump's remarks, "We've been taking out barrels of oil. Nobody knows it. You know who doesn't know about it? Iran—until right now."
Wright defended Trump as speaking "casually" about the war effort, but Sykes fired back.
"Do you think that war is casual? There are 13 service people who are dead. There are hundreds more that are injured."
The exchange highlighted stark communication breakdowns within the administration.
Watch the video below.
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