Donald Trump says he urged OPEC members to lower oil prices

President Donald Trump said he called the oil cartel OPEC and demanded lower prices for energy, amid a spike in the cost of gasoline at the pump in the United States.

The president claimed, without empirical evidence, that gasoline prices are already falling. It was unclear what Trump meant when he said he called the cartel.

"The gasoline prices are coming down. I called up OPEC. I said, You have got to bring them down," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We are doing great."

The rising price at the pump predated the announcement this week by Washington that it would not extend waivers for several countries on purchases of Iran oil exports, as Trump seeks to increase the pressure on Tehran.

Trump said allies like Saudi Arabia will increase their output to make up for any shortfalls.

The US president often tries to pressure OPEC to lower prices.

The US is not a member of the cartel but is a major global energy producer.