GRAND OIL PARTY: Trump’s Big Oil Loyalty Is Cemented as Oil Lobbyist Takes Over RNC

As Trump Struggles to Raise Grassroots Dollars, Campaign Relies on Big Oil’s Dirty Money

Washington, D.C. – Today, GOP officials at the Republican National Committee elected career oil and gas lobbyist and Trump pick Michael Whatley to the chairmanship, cementing the longstanding loyalty between Donald Trump, the Republican party, and Big Oil. As Donald Trump (who, as a reminder, is broke) struggles to raise grassroots dollars, this move is yet another proof point that his campaign is relying on Big Oil to fund their campaign and Trump’s steeply rising legal fees. 

“As of today, Big Oil has installed a direct line to the head of the RNC, boosting their influence across the party and keeping the revolving door spinning,” said Climate Power senior advisor for oil and gas Alex Witt. “Big Oil is already bankrolling Trump and MAGA Republicans; now, through Michael Whatley, they’ll have a big say in where the money goes in 2024.”

Whatley’s top career hits include lobbying on behalf of oil and gas giants like ExxonMobil and BP, working with the American Petroleum Institute in favor of pro-oil policies, and co-founding a lobbying firm that became a key backer of the Keystone XL pipeline. Whatley’s firm also created the Consumer Energy Alliance, a nonprofit front group for Big Oil that was supported by companies like Chevron, ExxonMobil, and BP.