$5 Million Donation Preceded FDA Vape Decision
The donation came days before industry representatives met with Trump and the FDA later eased flavored-vape restrictions that could aid major tobacco companies.
- On April 30, Reynolds American donated $5 million to the super PAC MAGA Inc., eight days before the Food and Drug Administration eased restrictions on flavored vapes, including products for children.
- Tobacco industry executives met President Donald Trump at his Jupiter, Florida, golf club two days after the donation to express dissatisfaction with the FDA's ban on flavored vapes.
- FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigned four days after the guidance was announced, while White House spokesperson Kush Desai denied any link to the donation, claiming "the only guiding factor behind the Trump administrations health policymaking is gold standard science."
- Critics described the donation as a legal "bribe," while influencer Alex Clark warned that corporate interests are "running the show," prompting outrage among Make America Healthy Again activists.
- The policy shift strains the fragile relationship between the Trump administration and the Make America Healthy Again movement, conflicting with Trump's 2024 campaign pledge to "save vaping" to appeal to youth voters.
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Tobacco industry money causes MAHA-MAGA rift
Allegations that President Donald Trump called for the easing of restrictions on vaping after campaign donations from tobacco companies are straining the fragile relationship between the administration and the Make America Healthy Again movement. MAHA activists expressed displeasure with the Trump administration on Thursday following reports that the tobacco company Reynolds American donated $5 million to a super PAC backed by Trump roughly one…
$5M donation from big tobacco preceded FDA vape decision
The tobacco company Reynolds American donated $5 million to a super PAC backed by President Donald Trump last month, about one week before his administration rolled out a new policy that could prove lucrative to the tobacco industry. The post $5M donation from big tobacco preceded FDA vape decision appeared first on West Hawaii Today.
‘Open, Shameless Grift’: Right Before FDA Ruling on Vapes, Big Tobacco Company Gave $5 Million to a Trump Super PAC
It was already known that President Donald Trump pressured top health officials to allow flavored vapes to hit the market after being leaned on by Big Tobacco executives. Now, The New York Times has revealed that the decision came just over a week after a massive super PAC donation from one of the cigarette companies looking to have the regulations lifted.
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