During his first term, Trump championed policies that helped the United States achieve energy independence while becoming a net-exporter of crude oil. In 2018, U.S. crude oil production became number one in the world, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia. By empowering domestic oil and gas production, Trump’s administration allowed the U.S. to meet its energy needs domestically, thus reducing reliance on foreign imports, stabilizing the economy, and bolstering national security. This approach gave the U.S. greater control over global energy prices and supported American influence in the energy sector.