Reports show that Trump’s fossil fuel-focused agenda is a “gift” to Big Oil
Washington, D.C. — A new report from Climate Power shows just how much money Big Oil spent buying the loyalty of the Trump-Vance administration and MAGA Republicans in Congress.
During the 2024 election cycle, the oil and gas industry poured more than $445 million into Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and to help Republicans win control of both chambers of Congress.
This report makes clear that those hundreds of millions in “donations” and lobbying were really a down payment to ensure Trump would implement the oil and gas industry’s extreme and dangerous agenda—to the detriment of America’s consumers, businesses, and economy. While this number is shocking, it’s also only a tip of the Citizens United iceberg—because those same oil and gas companies, their board members, and their executives funneled dark money into Super PACs and other projects backing Trump and his allies.
And it’s clear that Big Oil’s influence campaign is already paying dividends.
That’s why we’ve seen Trump nominating executives, hedge fund managers, and corporate shills backed by Big Oil for cabinet positions—from Chris Wright and Scott Bessent, to corporate lawyer Pam Bondi.
It’s also why on Day One of the Trump-Vance administration we saw sweeping executive orders withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, rescinding Biden-Harris administration regulations, declaring an “energy emergency” to the benefit of fossil fuel companies, and curtailing onshore and offshore wind energy, with more measures reversing climate action certainly to come in the days and weeks that follow.
Here’s what you need to know about how Trump is placating fossil fuel companies to bail them out, raise prices on American families to increase profits, and undermining responsible investing:
- The Guardian: How Trump’s Day One Orders Reveal A White House For Big Oil
- CNN: Big Oil Celebrates The Return Of Trump
- NPR: Trump’s Energy Emergency Is A Gift To Fossil Fuel Firms
- PBS: Trump pushes for more oil and gas production and a roll-back of climate initiatives
- The New York Times: Five Ways Trump Made It Suddenly Harder to Face Climate Risks
- MotherJones: Donald Trump’s Executive Orders Seek to Monkeywrench US Climate Efforts
