With a Friend in Trump, the Tobacco Industry Secures a Lucrative Win
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- President Trump, during a lunch at his golf club in Jupiter, Fla., was confronted by tobacco executives and lobbyists frustrated with FDA regulations on their industry.
- Frustrated, Trump attempted to contact FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary but received no response, prompting him to call Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS head Dr. Mehmet Oz.
- Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the FDA's regulation of e-cigarettes to these top health officials.
- Within a week of the meeting, the tobacco executives' concerns were addressed, indicating a swift response to the president's complaints.