WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pledged to roll back dozens of Biden administration environmental rules and policies during a meeting with top U.S. oil executives, during which he also asked them to raise $1 billion for his campaign presidential election, the Washington Post reported Thursday.
The Post, citing unidentified sources close to last month’s meeting in Florida, said Trump had promised to end the presidency. Joe BidenBiden’s emissions rules aimed to promote electric vehicles and end the Biden administration’s freeze on permits for new liquefied natural gas exports, among other actions.
Trump told executives that giving $1 billion would be a “deal” for them, according to the report. Guests included the CEOs of Venture Global, Cheniere Energy as well as representatives from Chevron, Continental Resources, Exxon and Occidental Petroleum, it said.
Representatives for Trump’s campaign could not immediately be reached for comment. Representatives of the companies could also not be immediately contacted.
Trump, who faces a rematch against Biden in the Nov. 5 presidential election, has pledged to undo much of the Democratic president’s work in the fight against climate change.
Biden has touted his administration’s climate efforts — including his tailpipe rules — as both good for the environment and the economy, which is a factor in his re-election campaign.
During the meeting at Trump’s private club, the Republican presidential candidate also said he would auction more leases for oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and roll back drilling restrictions in the Arctic Alaska, the Post reported. He also reiterated his complaints about wind power, the statement added.
(Writing by Susan Heavey; editing by Doina Chiacu)
