what was said

“We’re now exporting energy for the first time. Never did it. Now we’re exporting energy.”

— President Trump, speaking at a briefing at FEMA headquarters on Wednesday.

the facts

False.

The United States has exported energy sources like coal, natural gas, petroleum and electricity for decades, so Mr. Trump is wrong that this is happening for the first time.

Asked on Wednesday for clarification, the White House referred to the Energy Information Administration’s latest annual outlook, which projected that the United States would become a net energy exporter by 2022 — meaning that at that point, the country will export more energy than it imports.

That’s neither “now” nor the “first time.” Currently, the United States is still a net importer. Additionally, data from the energy statistical agency shows that the United States was a net exporter for several years before 1953.

The White House also cited a March report from the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that said the United States became a net exporter of liquefied natural gas in 2017 — the first time since 1957.