A New Report Shows How Trump Donors Get Richer

Two environmental/public interest watchdog groups have issued a new report on the nexus of huge campaign donations, federal energy and foreign policy, and massive political corruption.

The details are found in the pages of “President Trump and the Cost of Energy Corruption,” released April 22 as a joint report from Climate Power and Public Citizen. The report “show[s] how Trump’s fossil fuel donors are profiting at Americans’ expense.” 

Golden Age of Energy Corruption

“Corruption has a cost, and Trump has ushered in the ‘golden age’ of energy corruption ,” said Climate Power Senior Advisor Jesse Lee. “Trump gave away the game when he celebrated high oil prices because ‘we make a lot of money.’”

The authors cite Trump’s extensive moves to block clean energy projects, eliminate tax credits promoting electric vehicles, and increased subsidies for oil and gas production and export. They also point to his decision to attack Iran, which is driving up the price of gasoline while increasing the profits of domestic exporters of oil and liquified methane gas (LNG). 

For a good discussion regarding how the ongoing war in Iran is destabilizing methane (“natural”) gas markets and raising the costs of methane gas around the world, see this article from the highly respected independent news service Reuters.