From crypto to vaping: Donald Trump's huge promises to big corporates ahead of US elections

Trump has received millions in donations from top energy executives

As Donald Trump seeks to return to the White House, he has come a long way from his campaign pitch from 2016

“I don’t need anybody’s money,” he had said. The situation is a bit different this time. As per a New York Times report, he is asking donations from small donors online, pressing billionaires over private meals in Trump Tower and lobbying for donations from industries regulated by the government.

And while doing this, the report stated that, he is sometimes making overt promises about what he will do once he’s in office, a trait rarely seen in modern presidential politics.

Cryptocurrency

Trump’s main fund-raising committee has reportedly receiving more than $8.2 million in cryptocurrency donations till September. As per the report, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, co-founders of crypto platform Gemini, each gave more than $1.25 million to Trump after attending a fund-raising dinner for him in San Francisco.  In July, Trump, at a crypto industry conference, said he would fire Gary Gensler, the chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, on his first day he will become President.  Though it is unclear whether the president would have such power, Trump has made it clear he intends to try to bring independent agencies under presidential control.

Big Tobacco

RAI Services Company, a subsidiary of the tobacco giant Reynolds American is the largest corporate contributor to Trump’s main super PAC. It has contributed $8.5 million so far. “It is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use."

Oil and Gas

Trump has received millions in donations from top energy executives, including $10 million across two pro-Trump super PACs from Kelcy Warren, the chief executive of Energy Transfer, the report stated. Joseph Craft III, who leads a major coal company, and his wife, Kelly, a former Trump ambassador, have donated almost $3 million to Trump, the party and a super PAC.  Trump publicly pledged to eliminate new Biden administration climate rules designed to speed up the transition to electric vehicles. He also said as president he would clear more public lands for oil and gas exploration.