(Cupventi.com) – President-elect Donald Trump has named Chris Wright, the CEO and founder of Liberty Energy, as the new Secretary of Energy in his upcoming administration. Wright will also serve as a member of the newly formed Council of National Energy, a position reflecting Trump’s strong focus on energy policy for his second term.
“I am thrilled to announce that Chris Wright will be joining my Administration as both United States Secretary of Energy and Member of the newly formed Council of National Energy,” Trump declared in a statement released Saturday. The announcement underscored Wright’s extensive background in energy innovation, describing him as a “leading technologist and entrepreneur in Energy.”
Wright’s Energy Expertise
Trump highlighted Wright’s diverse experience across various energy sectors, including nuclear, solar, geothermal, and oil and gas. “Most significantly, Chris was one of the pioneers who helped launch the American Shale Revolution,” Trump noted, emphasizing Wright’s role in driving U.S. energy independence and reshaping global energy markets.
Wright, known for his deep technical knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit, expressed gratitude for the appointment on social media. “I am honored and grateful for the opportunity from @realDonaldTrump to serve our country as U.S. Secretary of Energy,” Wright wrote on X. “My dedication to bettering human lives remains steadfast, with a focus on making American energy more affordable, reliable, and secure. Energy is the lifeblood that makes everything in life possible. Energy matters. I am looking forward to getting to work.”
According to Liberty Energy’s website, Wright is an MIT graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering. He also completed graduate studies in electrical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and MIT. The company describes Wright as a “tech nerd turned entrepreneur” and a “dedicated humanitarian” whose mission is to enhance human lives through abundant, affordable, and reliable energy.
Trump’s Energy Policy Vision
The announcement aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to prioritize U.S. energy independence and expand domestic oil and gas production. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly criticized the Biden administration’s energy policies, pledging to reverse regulations that he argues have stifled American energy industries.
“They annihilated your steel mills, decimated your coal jobs, assaulted your oil and gas jobs, and sold off your manufacturing jobs to China and other foreign nations,” Trump stated at a Pennsylvania rally last month. As part of his energy agenda, Trump has promised to lift restrictions on fracking, resume liquefied natural gas exports, and withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate accord once again.
Additionally, Trump has vowed to roll back stringent emissions standards for vehicles and power plants while bolstering U.S. energy production to ensure a secure and thriving domestic energy sector.
A Rapid Transition
Wright’s appointment reflects the fast pace of Trump’s second-term Cabinet nominations, a stark contrast to the slower rollout during his first administration in 2016. Transition team spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt noted that Trump is prioritizing highly qualified candidates to deliver on his campaign promises.
“The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin, giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail,” Leavitt stated. “His Cabinet picks reflect his priority to put America First.”
During his first term, Trump appointed former Texas Governor Rick Perry as Energy Secretary, followed by Dan Brouillette in 2019. Wright’s appointment was announced weeks earlier than Perry’s, signaling a more decisive approach to forming the new administration.
Broader Energy Policy Changes
Trump’s energy team is shaping up to include an “energy czar” tasked with scaling back regulations implemented during the Biden administration. Former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin has already been named as Trump’s choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, further demonstrating the president-elect’s commitment to reshaping U.S. energy and environmental policy.
The selection of Wright, a key figure in the American Shale Revolution, underscores the administration’s focus on leveraging domestic energy resources to secure affordable, reliable energy for the nation while aiming to reassert the U.S. as a global energy leader.