'Having your butt handed to you': Energy secretary made to answer for Trump

[0:00] OK, we played this earlier. I've talked about it. I just have to play it again, [0:03] because this was Trump's answer to a reporter's question about rising inflation numbers today. [0:09] The numbers were great. You know what I really love? I love the inflation. You know why? [0:15] Because as soon as this war is over, you know, I can say it now. Something you didn't know. [0:21] You know, we've been taking out millions of barrels of oil. Nobody knows it. You know who [0:27] doesn't know about it? Iran until right now. Not only did Trump actually utter the words, [0:33] I love the inflation, but he also said that the U.S. has been secretly taking out millions of [0:39] barrels of oil without Iran's knowledge, all of which is big if true. And it'd be so great if [0:44] someone from the Trump administration could explain the whole I love inflation thing and [0:49] also the whole taking barrels of oil thing. Well, it just so happened that a few cabinet [0:54] officials, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright, were testifying today on Capitol Hill [0:58] right after Trump said those things. I'm sure they were delighted by that. [1:02] And here's how that went. [1:06] Do you feel like your positions and policy statements are in line with President Trump? [1:13] Yes, I hope so. [1:15] Do you love inflation? [1:21] I love ending Iran's ability to have a nuclear weapon. I think that's existential for our future. [1:27] That was not my question. Do you love inflation, yes or no? [1:30] I love ending Iran's... [1:33] That is not my question. [1:34] Do you love inflation, yes or no? [1:36] No, I would prefer lower inflation. [1:37] You would prefer low inflation. Do you know that your boss, essentially President Trump, [1:42] just stated that he loved inflation? [1:47] He's an entertaining, hyperbolic guy who's done tremendous leadership and unbalance is [1:53] driving inflation down. [1:53] So it sounds like you're unaware that President Trump just mentioned that he loved [1:57] uninflation. And I certainly don't want to get you in trouble with your boss, but it sounds like [2:01] you don't love inflation, but he does. [2:03] Mr. Chair, if I may, can I play some audio from some comments that President Trump made in [2:07] the Oval Office? Okay. [2:11] The numbers were straight. [2:14] I don't think we've heard this before. [2:15] I love the inflation. You know why? [2:17] Because as soon as this war is over, you know, I can say it now. [2:22] Something you didn't know. Do you know we've been taking out... [2:24] Let's just spend... [2:25] Billions of barrels of oil. [2:28] Nobody knows it. You know who doesn't know about it? Iran, until right now. [2:33] Mr. Secretary, it seems like you didn't know about this either. [2:36] So why would the United States be taking out millions of barrels of oil from Iran? [2:40] Well, it's essential that we prevent oil sales from generating revenue for Iran to [2:46] spend, to develop nuclear weapons and oppressor people. [2:49] Mr. Secretary, I understand this might be an uncomfortable line of questioning, and you [2:52] don't want to do it, but you are not answering my question. So I'm going to ask you again, [2:56] and I'm going to hope that you will answer it honestly. Did you know that the United States [3:01] was taking millions of gallons of oil from Iran? [3:05] I'm unaware. [3:06] So do you think that the president is lying based on the audio that you just heard? And I will [3:10] send it to you in case you say you didn't hear it. [3:13] Oh, no, I do not think the president's lying. I think the president's talking casually about [3:18] our efforts to stop the flow of Iranian oil. [3:20] Do you think that war is casual? Do you think that it is appropriate to talk casually about war? [3:26] I think you talk to all different audiences, and you talk in all different styles. [3:30] But I don't have any serious objection to what he said. [3:35] I mean, that is what having your butt handed to you in a hearing looks like, everyone. [3:39] Joining me now is Democratic Congresswoman Amelia Sykes of Ohio, who you just saw, [3:43] kept a straight face while she was questioning the secretary of energy. Okay. Trump said, [3:50] and I just love talking about this because it's helpful for people to understand how this works. [3:53] He said, I love the inflation. Just a couple of hours before you questioned secretary, right? [3:58] I'm sure you had a different set of questions you were preparing for him. What made you focus on [4:02] this one? Well, we hear so much about the cost of living from gas and groceries and housing and [4:08] health care back at home and across the country. And it just seemed a ripe opportunity to direct a [4:15] very clear yes or no question to the secretary of energy. Energy costs are rising all over the [4:21] country, including in my district, Ohio's 13th. And I wanted to hear directly from the secretary. [4:28] Did he agree with President Trump's terminology of loving inflation? And he said, no, as I assume [4:34] he would, as most Americans are not too keen on inflation and increased costs. And you saw what [4:41] happened next. If anybody wonders if law degrees can come in handy for elected office, they can watch [4:47] that exchange. Now, there was another notable part of your questioning is when Wright seemed completely [4:51] unaware that Trump had claimed that the U.S. military had helped 100 million barrels of oil [4:56] through the Strait of Ramirez, despite him being, of course, the energy secretary. I would note he should [5:02] know that sort of thing and what was said by the president. According to The New York Times, Trump was [5:06] referring to previously reported efforts by the U.S. military to help commercial ships through the [5:10] strait. But what do you make of the fact that Wright had no idea what you were talking about? And tell people [5:17] watching what's actually going on with this. Well, we heard the secretary dodge questions about grants and [5:26] funding opportunities and ways to lower costs for hours. And, you know, hearing that stunning [5:32] admission from the president that they had secretly taken hundreds, millions of barrels of crude oil [5:40] from Iran was stunning because where is the oil? Is it being sold? Why are gas prices still so high if you [5:47] have all of this reserve? And so I would have expected the secretary to know exactly where these barrels [5:55] are. But apparently, just as President Trump said, no one knew, including Iran in that moment, and [6:01] neither did Secretary Wright. What did you make of, I mean, in all seriousness, it's like sometimes you [6:08] watch them and it's ludicrous and you watch them try to defend Trump's statements and it's just it's [6:12] embarrassing and hard to watch. He's the energy secretary. He's supposed to know about oil markets. [6:19] He has, you know, he has a lot under his purview. What did you make of his answers, his inability to [6:26] answer any of them, his, I guess, fealty and fear of Trump? Well, he started, I started my questioning [6:33] around meritocracy because they were talking about programs that encouraged women and people of color [6:39] as being improper. And he then quoted MLK. And I said, you know, this is out of your league. This is not [6:45] part of your expertise. But then to have an exchange in that way and then show how unprepared [6:51] and illogical and reckless they're behaving, there is not a meritocracy in this administration. [6:58] We're only seeing the folks who are the most loyal to the president rise and they can't answer [7:03] simple questions like where are millions of barrels of oil that have been confiscated from Iran? [7:10] You would expect the secretary of energy to know the answer to that question. [7:14] And if, in fact, they were working on merit and skill and logic and intelligence, [7:20] he would have known it, but they're not. And so that's why he could not. [7:24] I don't have much time left, but maybe this is a warning to them. But what else do you want to [7:28] know from this administration? I want to know where the Epstein files are. [7:32] Well, and I want to know when they're going to lower costs, too. [7:34] Well, those are very important things to question. And I fear for the next person, [7:38] you have to question at a hearing, but I will look forward to watching it. [7:41] Thank you so much for being here tonight. I really appreciate it.