Donald Trump told oil industry executives he would dismantle Joe Biden‘s pro-electric vehicle agenda is seeking $1bn (£800m) to help it return to the White House, it has been claimed.
The Republican presidential candidate pledged to roll back the Biden administration’s environmental rules during a meeting with fossil fuel bosses last month, according to the Washington Post, and called recently introduced EV rules ‘ridiculous’.
Mr. Trump reportedly described the proposed billion-dollar donation as a “deal,” given the savings oil and gas companies could make from his policies.
President Biden announced new vehicle emissions standards that could mean zero-emission vehicles will account for more than half of all sales by 2032. U.S. gasoline producers said the rules amounted to a real “gasoline car ban” and called for it. vigorously opposed.
The dinner at Mr. Trump’s residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, was reportedly attended by the heads of gas companies Venture Global and Cheniere Energy as well as companies including Chevron and ExxonMobil.
Electric cars have the potential to become a major player November US election battleground. Democrats have spent billions to encourage electric vehicle purchases and domestic production, as well as to build a charging network.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump said electric car mandates would “kill” the US auto industry and warned of a “bloodbath” for manufacturers if he is not re-elected.
Reversing the trend toward electric vehicles, however, could disappoint automakers such as Ford and General Motors, which have moved into battery-powered vehicles, as well as Tesla, whose chief executive, Elon Musk, has sharply criticized Mr. Biden .
The Biden administration also froze liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permits, citing environmental concerns.
The industry has grown dramatically in recent years thanks to the shale boom. The gas industry largely opposed the freeze, and Republicans tried to overturn it.
Mr. Trump told gas executives he would reverse the freeze immediately. “You’ll get it on day one,” he reportedly said.
Oil and gas production in the United States has reached unprecedented heights under Mr Biden’s presidency, while oil majors have made record profits, but executives have chafed over his environmental policies and pledges to abandon fossil fuels.
Mr. Trump reportedly told leaders he would roll back restrictions on Arctic drilling and issue more exploration licenses in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
