Wright Defends US Invasion of Iran as Energy Production Tops Pre-Pandemic Levels

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visited Midland County as part of his Great American Energy Comeback Tour, a series of regional stops to highlight domestic oil and gas production. Wright has built a career in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and is the former head of Liberty Energy, now the second-largest fracking firm in North America.

The tour included a visit to an ExxonMobil rig in Greenwood, where Wright made brief remarks and was joined by industry leaders including American Petroleum Institute President Mike Sommers. Wright praised Midland's role in transforming energy production, noting that the Permian Basin has increased oil production from 2 million barrels per day under Trump to over 6.5 million today.

The tour also featured a rally at the Bush Convention Center, where industry leaders and local politicians promoted the 'Great American Comeback' by rolling back regulations on energy production. Wright defended Trump's invasion of Iran, saying it was necessary to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear-armed state, despite causing oil prices to spike.