Trump Backs Vapes After Susie Wiles’ Tobacco Pals Visit White House

Key Points:

• Tobacco firm Swisher International lobbied the White House regularly in the year leading up to President Trump's push to approve flavored vapes, though the FDA ultimately approved a different vape company, Glas.
• Susie Wiles, Trump's Chief of Staff, previously lobbied for Swisher and related firms on FDA tobacco regulation issues, with her daughter working at a lobbying firm representing Swisher.
• Swisher itself does not produce vape products, and its sister company E-Alternative Solutions was not among those approved in the FDA's recent announcement on flavored vape products.
• Trump reportedly pressured FDA commissioner Marty Makary to expedite approval of flavored vapes despite Makary's concerns about youth appeal and public health risks, marking a shift from Trump's earlier restrictions on e-cigarette flavors during his first term.
• White House officials defended Wiles, emphasizing her ethical standards and the administration's commitment to "Gold Standard Science," while Trump framed expanded vape access as beneficial for smoking cessation and criticized Biden-Harris for wanting bans.