Biden describes Chevron CEO as ‘sensitive’ after exec says industry has been vilified

President Joe Biden on Tuesday said Chevron CVX, +4.19% CEO Michael Wirth seemed thin-skinned about criticism from the White House. Asked to comment on a letter in which the oil executive said the Biden administration has at times vilified the oil industry and called for the White House to change its approach, Biden replied: “He’s mildly sensitive. I didn’t know they’d get their feelings hurt that quickly.” The president also sounded hopeful: “We ought to be able to work something out whereby they’re able to increase refining capacity and still not give up on transitioning to renewable energy.”