Former President Trump reportedly asked oil industry leaders for $1 billion in campaign funds.
Trump met with oil executives at Mar-A-Lago last month. His request for $1 billion for his campaign was previously reported by The Washington Post and The New York Times.
The Post reported that Trump stated the donations would be beneficial for oil executives due to the tax cuts and relaxed regulations he would enforce, but another source mentioned that the discussion was not portrayed as a quid pro quo.
Another source, who was not present but spoke with attendees, also confirmed Trump's request for donations. The source stated Trump had previously criticized oil executives for not contributing enough to his campaign.
Trump's campaign spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, neither confirmed nor denied the $1 billion request when questioned.
Leavitt stated in a written statement, “Joe Biden is influenced by environmental extremists who are attempting to enforce the most radical energy agenda in history and compel Americans to buy electric vehicles they cannot afford.”
“President Trump is backed by individuals who share his vision of American energy dominance to safeguard our national security and reduce the cost of living for all Americans,” she added.
The April gathering was arranged by oil tycoon Harold Hamm.
A spokesperson for Biden's campaign accused Trump of “sacrificing the interests of working families to Big Oil in exchange for campaign contributions.”
Biden campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa stated, “Trump isn’t advocating for what’s best for American families, affordable energy, or our environment — his only concern is winning the election and he will betray working families to advance special interests.
In campaign speeches, Trump frequently mentions the high energy and gasoline prices to criticize President Biden for inflation and attribute the rise in costs to Biden’s policies.
“We're going to put an end to this conflict over American energy. We're going to drill extensively. Your energy expenses will decrease significantly,” Trump proclaimed last week at a rally in Wisconsin.
Trump has also pledged to overturn the climate strategies of the Biden administration, particularly those focused on promoting electric vehicles over gasoline-powered cars and pausing approvals for new infrastructure for shipping liquefied natural gas.
