Staff Reports
Senator Dave McCormick made a blunt case this week: President Donald Trump’s “energy dominance” strategy is more than an economic plan. It’s a diplomatic weapon. Speaking at a Breitbart “Harnessing American Power” event, McCormick said energy is the “big stick” the United States can use to shape world affairs — and he urged Republicans to lock that power into law so it lasts beyond one administration.
Energy as a diplomatic tool
McCormick told Breitbart that President Donald Trump has expanded the economic toolkit — trade, foreign direct investment, Treasury tools — and put energy at the center of it all. He called it both a “sword and an olive branch,” meaning U.S. energy can punish bad actors or reward friends. That is a simple, clear way to think about power: when you make energy, you have leverage. When you stop making it, you beg for favors.
A shifting energy map that favors America
The timing matters. McCormick pointed to moves like the United Arab Emirates’ recent exit from OPEC as signs that the old cartel politics are fraying. He also reminded listeners that countries such as Venezuela and Iran hold huge shares of the world’s proven oil reserves — figures he used to underscore why who controls energy matters. Those are not wild claims; energy agencies and global analysts put Venezuela and Iran among the top holders of proven reserves. If pro‑Western governments controlled more of those reserves, McCormick argued, America would be far more dominant on the global stage.
Permitting reform and institutional fixes
McCormick isn’t just offering speeches. He’s pushing for law. He wants permitting reform and other statutes that lock in faster production and stronger infrastructure. He also pointed to the White House’s National Energy Dominance Council — chaired by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum — as the kind of institutional muscle needed to coordinate policy. In plain English: don’t leave energy power to goodwill and presidential tweets. Put rules in place so the U.S. stays strong even when leaders change.
The conservative case: act now or lose leverage
Republicans should like this idea because it works. Energy jobs. Geopolitical leverage. A stronger economy. Yet too many on the left still flinch at words like “fracking” and “drill.” If conservatives let that fear dictate policy, we surrender influence and invite chaos. McCormick’s point is practical: build the capacity, pass the laws, and keep America in the driver’s seat. That’s not just politics. It’s national security. If Republicans want real power instead of moral lectures, they should make energy dominance permanent — and stop apologizing for American strength.
