WASHINGTON (April 13, 2026) — President Donald Trump on Monday spotlighted a dramatic surge in crude oil tanker traffic heading to the U.S. Gulf Coast, framing it as a clear win for American energy dominance amid escalating international turmoil. U.S. Gulf Coast crude exports are on track to hit a record 4.9 million barrels per day in April — a 23% jump from March levels — as global buyers scramble for reliable American supplies following Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which began in late February. In a Fox News interview, Trump enthusiastically pointed to the rush of empty