Former President Donald Trump gestures as he returns to court after a lunch break, at Manhattan criminal court in New York, on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Former President Donald Trump reportedly promised oil company CEOs that he would reverse numerous environmental rules and policies if they provided $1 billion to his campaign for re-election,
The conversation reportedly happened at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in April with the Republican front-runner promising less taxation and governmental regulations, sources familiar with the matter told the Post. According toand the Post, guests included CEOs of Venture Global, Cheniere Energy, and representatives from Chevron, Continental Resources, Exxon, and Occidental Petroleum.
Trump told companies that he would end a freeze on permits for new liquefied natural gas exports, which would benefit several of the companies in attendance. He also promised to auction off more leases for oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, reverse drilling restrictions in the Alaskan Arctic, and challenge Environmental Protection Agency rules to reduce vehicle tailpipe emissions, the Post added.
Sources told the Post that Trump mischaracterized the Biden-touted "tailpipe rule" as an electric vehicle "mandate". Electric Vehicles have been a target of conservatives in recent years, especially with other countries cracking down on vehicle manufacturers to produce more in coming years. Trump, it appears, is turning to the petroleum and fossil fuel industries for support to succeed against Democratic opponent, incumbent President Joe Biden.during his time in office pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement , approved a heavily contested Keystone XL oil pipeline (which wasPresident Joe Biden's administration has authorized over 100 new environmental regulations in office thus far to combat global warming, cutting air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.