Recent years have shown how a single political decision can shift global power dynamics. Donald Trump made the U.S. a leader in oil production, weakening Russia’s position. Joe Biden, however, abandoned American energy independence, handing Putin the financial resources to fund the war in Ukraine. But with Trump’s return to the White House, the situation is changing once again.
How Trump Weakened Russia Through U.S. Oil Production
When Donald Trump took office, he prioritized the expansion of the oil and gas sector. His administration:
Lifted restrictions on oil drilling.
Approved drilling on federal lands and offshore sites.
Revived the Keystone XL pipeline for cheap Canadian oil imports.
Boosted shale oil production, making the U.S. the world’s largest oil producer.
The result? The U.S. achieved energy independence, and oil prices dropped, significantly hurting Russia. Moscow, whose budget relies on oil revenues by 40%, lost billions. Putin faced economic difficulties, while the West gained leverage with low oil prices.
How Biden Gave Putin a Financial Jackpot
On his first day in office, Biden reversed Trump’s policies: ❌ Banned new oil and gas drilling permits. ❌ Canceled the Keystone XL pipeline. ❌ Restricted shale oil production under the guise of “green policies”. ❌ Created an artificial oil supply shortage, driving prices up.
The result? Oil prices surged from $40 to over $100 per barrel. Who benefited? Russia. Thanks to soaring prices, Russian oil revenues increased by over 40%, despite Western sanctions (Bloomberg, 2022).
How Trump Restored U.S. Energy Independence
With Trump’s return to the White House in 2025, the U.S. is regaining control of the global energy market. His administration: 🔥 Removed restrictions on oil and gas production. 🔥 Revived the Keystone XL pipeline. 🔥 Reduced taxes and regulations for energy companies. 🔥 Increased oil exports, reducing Europe’s reliance on Russian energy.
The result? Oil prices are dropping, weakening Russia’s economic influence. The U.S. is once again a dominant energy producer, while Moscow faces declining revenues, limiting its ability to finance military operations.
Oil Market Trends Under Trump and Biden (2000–2024)
| Year | U.S. President | Russian Oil Exports (barrels/day) | Oil Price ($/barrel) | Revenue from Russian Oil Exports ($ billion) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Bill Clinton | 4.5M | $30 | $49B |
| 2005 | George W. Bush | 6.3M | $55 | $126B |
| 2010 | Barack Obama | 7.5M | $80 | $219B |
| 2015 | Barack Obama | 8.5M | $50 | $155B |
| 2020 | Donald Trump | 10.5M | $40 | $153B |
| 2022 | Joe Biden | 9.8M | $100 | $357B |
| 2024 | Joe Biden | 9.5M | $95 | $329B |
(Sources: Bloomberg, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Russian Ministry of Finance)
Under Trump, the U.S. controlled the global oil market, weakening Russia. Under Biden, America lost its energy independence, created skyrocketing oil prices, and indirectly funded the war in Ukraine. However, Trump’s return is reversing these policies, restoring U.S. energy dominance and tightening economic pressure on Russia.
This case proves that wrong political decisions can have catastrophic consequences—but strong leadership can correct them. The key question now: Will Trump solidify this success and make America great again?
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Here are the online sources from which the data on Russian oil export volumes and oil prices were obtained:
- Russian Oil Export Volumes:
- The Central Bank of the Russian Federation provides detailed statistics on the export of crude oil, including quantities and values. cbr.ru
- Oil Prices by Year:
- The Wikipedia page on oil prices offers historical data on oil prices over the years. Wikipediai
- The TASS infographics page provides a visual representation of oil prices over the past 40 years. TACC
These sources were utilized to compile the table detailing oil prices and Russian oil export volumes.
Sources: Midtown Tribune