April 3, 2026

Mark Menezes
President & CEO
United States Energy Association
Washington, DC, United States of America

Dear Mr. Menezes,

For several years, I had the privilege of serving as a panellist at United States Energy Association (USEA) press briefings. I valued those discussions and the opportunity to contribute to informed, collegial dialogue on energy issues.

It is, therefore, not a decision I take lightly to withdraw from any future association with USEA.

Your recent statement (see below) praising President Donald Trump’s “energy dominance” doctrine and endorsing the administration’s actions in Iran makes that decision unavoidable.

Organizations like USEA play an important convening role. Their credibility rests on maintaining analytical independence and providing a forum for diverse perspectives. Your statement moves beyond analysis into explicit political alignment—endorsing both the administration’s geopolitical framing and its commercial directive to “Buy American oil.”

That shift matters.

For me, it is not abstract. As a Canadian journalist, I am observing an administration that has threatened my country’s sovereignty, imposed tariffs on our economy, and publicly disparaged Canada and its elected leadership. In that context, USEA’s alignment with that administration’s agenda creates an incompatibility I cannot reconcile in good faith.

This is not a rejection of debate or disagreement. Those are essential to the energy conversation. But there is a clear distinction between facilitating discussion and endorsing a specific political doctrine, particularly one tied to active military conflict and nationalist economic positioning.

Once that line is crossed, participation risks becoming implicit endorsement.

I am not prepared to lend my name to that.

I want to acknowledge the professionalism of those who organized and hosted the briefings over the years. My decision reflects respect for what that forum has been, and concern about what your recent statement suggests it is becoming.

Under different circumstances, I would welcome continued engagement. At present, however, I cannot.

Thank you for the opportunity to have participated in the past.

Sincerely,
Markham Hislop
Energy journalist, CEO of Energi Media
British Columbia, Canada

March 2, 2026

USEA President & CEO Mark Menezes today released the following statement in response to President Trump’s address regarding Middle East developments and the vital role of American energy in global market stability:

“The recent disruptions in the Middle East underscore the absolute necessity of American energy leadership and the security of our global allies,” Menezes said. “USEA stands firmly with our partners, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, who remain vital to the stability of the global energy landscape.

“USEA echoes President Trump’s assessment that recent volatility in domestic gasoline prices is a direct result of the Iranian regime’s repeated attacks on commercial tankers and energy infrastructure. This aggression confirms that Iran cannot be allowed to wield the threat of nuclear weapons or continue its disruption of the Strait of Hormuz.

“The United States is uniquely positioned to lead through this crisis. We have the resources and infrastructure to provide a stable, reliable alternative to nations currently facing fuel shortages. Our message to the global community is clear: Buy American oil. We have the supply necessary to offset these disruptions and maintain global economic resilience.

“We commend the Trump Administration’s swift actions to protect energy flows, including the provision of political risk insurance for tankers and coordinated releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. These measures, combined with the pursuit of military objectives, will ensure that this period of instability remains brief and leads to a more secure, low-cost energy future.”