Multiple Democratic leaders criticized former President Donald Trump for allegedly soliciting $1 billion from top oil executives in exchange for rolling back environmental standards that he claimed were detrimental to the industry.
Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) spearheaded the criticism, accusing Trump of prioritizing cash over the well-being of the planet in a tweet referencing a Washington Post report. Newsom, a consistent adversary of Trump, has clashed with him on various issues, including the promotion of electric vehicles.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) also denounced Trump in separate statements. Markey condemned Trump’s behind-the-scenes dealmaking with Big Oil, describing it as a commitment to exacerbating the climate crisis. Additionally, Warren criticized Trump for allegedly offering to dismantle environmental protections in exchange for campaign contributions from the oil industry.
Warren, who recently introduced the BUILD GREEN Act to modernize transportation infrastructure, has faced criticism from Trump, who has disparagingly referred to her as “Pocahontas” due to her disputed Native American heritage.
In response to inquiries from the New York Times, Trump’s campaign spokesperson criticized President Joe Biden for allegedly being influenced by environmental extremists and pushing for an extreme energy agenda that includes forcing Americans to purchase electric vehicles.
The New York Times reported that executives from Exxon Mobil, EQT Corporation, and the American Petroleum Institute, along with Governor Doug Burgum (R-ND), were present at an “energy roundtable” event on April 11 where Trump allegedly made the solicitation for campaign funds.
