Former President Donald Trump asked oil industry executives for $1 billion in campaign cash, according to someone with knowledge of the meeting.
Trump met with oil CEOs at Mar-a-Lago last month. The Washington Post and the New York Times had previously reported on his request for $1 billion in campaign funds.
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According to The Post, Trump stated that the donations would be a “deal” for oil CEOs in exchange for tax cuts and fewer regulations, while the source who talked with The Hill stated that the conversation was not structured as a quid pro quo.
A second person, who was not present but spoke with those who were, said Trump made the request for donations. The source said Trump had previously chastised oil executives for not contributing enough to his campaign.
When asked if Trump had sought $1 billion, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt declined to confirm or deny it.
Leavitt said in a statement, “Environmental extremists control Joe Biden, trying to implement the most radical energy agenda in history and force Americans to purchase electric vehicles they can’t afford.”
“People who share his vision of American energy dominance to protect our national security and bring down the cost of living for all Americans” support President Trump, she said.
Oil magnate Harold Hamm organized the April event.
A Biden campaign official accused Trump of “selling out working families to Big Oil for campaign checks.”
“Trump isn’t fighting for what’s best for American families, cheaper energy, or our climate—he only cares about winning this election and will sell out working families to special interests to do it,” Biden campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa said in a statement.
In campaign speeches, Trump routinely uses high energy and gasoline prices to attack President Biden on inflation and blame Biden’s policies for the cost increase.
“We will halt the attack on American energy. “We’re going to drill, baby, drill,” Trump declared last week at a rally in Wisconsin. “We are going to lower your energy costs. We’re going to reduce your energy bills like you wouldn’t believe.”
Trump has also promised to repeal the Biden administration’s climate initiatives, particularly those aimed at promoting electric vehicles over gas-powered vehicles and halting licenses for new infrastructure for the export of liquefied natural gas.
