President Donald Trump tweeted Thursday, "The OPEC monopoly must get prices down now!" in reference to a 1.8 percent rise in global oil futures reported Wednesday. | AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File Energy & Environment Trump blames OPEC for rising oil prices, says U.S. 'will remember'

President Donald Trump on Thursday blamed oil-producing nations of the Middle East for rising oil prices, writing online that the U.S. "will remember" the price hikes in the context of its support for the region.

"We protect the countries of the Middle East, they would not be safe for very long without us, and yet they continue to push for higher and higher oil prices! We will remember," Trump tweeted. "The OPEC monopoly must get prices down now!"


Global oil futures rose 1.8 percent Wednesday, hitting a two-month high, according to a Reuters report. The rise came after the U.S. Energy Information Administration said crude and gasoline stockpiles fell last week, according to the report.

Trump has been intermittently critical of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, a global oil cartel dominated by Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East. OPEC ministers will meet later this week in Algeria.

Trump has criticized OPEC several times this year. In June, Trump tweeted: "Oil prices are too high, OPEC is at it again. Not good!”