With gas and diesel prices climbing steadily and midterm elections drawing closer, President Trump has called some of the country's biggest oil refiners to the White House for a Tuesday meeting. The companies invited include Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, Chevron, Delek US Holdings, PBF Energy, and Valero Energy. The timing isn't accidental. Fewer than three months remain before November's midterms, and Trump is facing mounting political heat over rising costs of living. A recent poll from the Financial Times found that voters increasingly feel their financial situation has worsened under his presidency. Diesel, which plays a critical role in powering American industry and farming, is edging toward record territory as well, inching closer to an all time high of $5.80 per gallon. This isn't the first time Trump has taken aim at the oil industry over pricing. Back in June, he accused major oil companies of price gouging and pushed for a Justice Department investigation into the matter. On Monday, Brent crude jumped about 2.7%, settling at $90.49 per barrel. That spike followed a weekend exchange of military strikes between the U.S. and Iran, with Trump vowing on Monday to hit Iran "hard" with additional attacks going forward. Trump followed up shortly after on Truth Social, describing the strikes as large and powerful. He framed the action as retaliation for Iran's failed attempt to plant sea mines in the strait, which he said have all since been removed or destroyed, along with Iran's launch of eight missiles at a U.S. military base in Jordan, all of which were intercepted. Trump didn't hold back on warning of what might come next. He said that if Iran responds to the strikes, it would face an even harsher counterattack, though he suggested that response still wouldn't compare to what he described as the biggest attack of all, one he claimed remains in reserve and, if used, would leave little of the Islamic Republic of Iran intact. Sagar is a journalist with an interest primarily in geopolitics and American domestic politics. Before joining Times Now, he wrote for Republic and Sw... View More