President Trump on Tuesday met with oil executives to discuss how to lower fuel prices as Americans face high travel costs for the Labor Day weekend. CBS News correspondent Natalie Brand reports.
Page F2From§Eachthe early evening edition — 1 September 2026
Trump meets with oil executives as US oil reserve hits 44-year low

The receipts show the US oil reserve at a 44-year low—the lowest since 1980, documented in the numbers. The president meets with oil executives to discuss lowering fuel prices. The ledger is a balancing act: reserves down, prices up, executives in the room. The ask is lower prices; the answer is a meeting, not a refill. The column gap is between the reserve’s bottom and the boardroom’s solution. The public gets the price, the executives get the meeting. In lieu of flowers, check the pump for the next round.
“When the oil reserve drops to its lowest since disco, the president calls in the execs to talk prices. The pump stays high, the reserves run dry, and the same faces keep showing up for the meeting. If you’re wondering who gets the deal, check who’s in the room.”
“Meeting with oil executives is just good governance—you need their input when reserves are low. The price discussion is routine, really, and I don’t see why anyone would read anything into that. Did I say lowest since 1980? Well, the economy fluctuates.”
The receipts
The U.S. released millions of barrels of oil after a historic energy shock set off by the Iran war.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.