'President for SALE': Internet mocks Trump as report claims he asked Big Oil for $1B in campaign cash

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Former President Donald Trump reportedly asked top oil executives to donate $1 billion to his presidential campaign during an "energy rund table" at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

The New York Times cited two people who were at the meeting between the GOP presumptive nominee and executives of the fossil fuel companies at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last month. They said Trump asked for the whopping donation in exchange for reversing environmental rules if elected in November.

The event on April 11 at the ex-president's private club, attended by around 20 people, was billed as the "energy round table."

Oil industry lobbyists were among the attendees, including executives from ExxonMobil, EQT Corporation, and the American Petroleum Institute. The private meeting was organized by oil billionaire Harold Hamm, who has long influenced Republican energy policies.

Trump reportedly promised to roll back Biden's pollution controls

A vocal critic of Biden's energy and environmental agenda, Trump vowed to abolish the incumbent's latest climate rules to transition the US to use electric vehicles.

In addition, the real estate mogul came forward with a "drill, baby, drill" agenda to assign more public lands to explore oil and gas.

During the private dinner, Trump doubled down on his pledge to reverse his successor's initiatives, which the attendees could benefit from during his likely second term if they donated.

Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt neither confirmed nor denied Trump's alleged request for $1 billion. However, she slammed Biden's push for electric vehicles.

"Joe Biden is controlled by environmental extremists who are trying to implement the most radical energy agenda in history and force Americans to purchase electric vehicles they can't afford," Leavitt wrote in a statement.

"President Trump is supported by people who share his vision of American energy dominance to protect our national security and bring down the cost of living for all Americans," she added, according to The Hill.

A Biden campaign spokesperson blasted Trump's meeting and demand for donations, accusing him of "straight up selling out working families for campaign donations from oil barons."

During his campaign speeches, the former president often criticized Biden over rising energy and gasoline prices. For instance, last week at a rally in Wisconsin, he promised to "end this war on American energy" and reduce the energy cost beyond anyone's belief.

At a campaign stop in Ohio in March, Trump predicted a "bloodbath" for the US automobile industry" in the event of his defeat in the November election.

Internet mocks Trump

Netizens ridiculed the MAGA spearhead's demand for a massive donation from Big Oil in exchange for reversing Biden's environmental policies.

One user wrote, "President for SALE. embarrassing." Another remarked, "Discreetly leave the unmarked bills in paper bags addressed to DJT behind the dumpster at Mar-a-Largo."

A third user labeled Trump "King of the Swamp!" A fourth response read, "The grift gets bigger and bigger!"

"Why is a billionaire asking for money?" another one quipped.

Someone else added, "Is he just begging to go to jail??? Does he, do his cult, actually think that's LEGAL?? One.....*BILLION* in *cash*. Guess his campaign is in big trouble."

Meanwhile, an individual joked, calling it a "Good investment."

"Not a Trump supporter, but this is history repeating itself. He is taking a strategic page out of Lyndon Johnson who pork barrelled big oil to a Presidency," another user said.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.