Trump says the U.S. is 'locked and loaded' following Saudi oil attack


In response to drone attacks on an oil site in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, President Trump tweeted on Sunday evening that there is "reason to believe that we know the culprit," and the United States is "locked and loaded depending on verification."
Trump said he is "waiting to hear from [Saudi Arabia] as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!" Oil prices rose sharply over the weekend, and Trump said he has authorized the release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve "if needed."
The extent of damage to the Aramco site is unknown, as reporters are being kept from the area. Aramco, Saudi Arabia's national petroleum and natural gas company, said the attacks curtailed output by 5.7 million barrels a day. The Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday there is "no evidence the attacks came from Yemen." He instead placed the blame on Iran, accusing the country of facilitating an "unprecedented attack on the world's energy supply." Iran denies the allegations.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
-
Smithsonian asserts its autonomy from Trump
speed read The DC institution defied Trump's firing of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet
-
Trump sends Marines to LA, backs Newsom arrest
speed read California Gov. Gavin Newsom is filing lawsuits in response to Trump's escalation of the federal response to ICE protests
-
Trump foists National Guard on unwilling California
speed read Protests erupted over ICE immigration raids in LA county
-
Supreme Court lowers bar in discrimination cases
speed read The court ruled in favor of a white woman who claimed she lost two deserved promotions to gay employees
-
Trump-Musk relationship implodes in taunts, threats
speed read Musk said Trump's multitrillion bill would cause a recession and accused the president of involvement with Jeffrey Epstein