At 'Shock Doctrine Press Conference,' Trump Bails Out Oil Industry, Not US
Families, as Coronavirus Crisis Intensifies
"Trump has once again put the interests of oil and gas executives ahead of
the interests of people and communities."
byJon Queally, staff writer
Surrounded by members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, US
President Donald Trump speaks at a press conference on COVID-19, known as
the coronavirus, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC,
March 13, 2020. (Photo: SAUL LOEB / AFP)
Surrounded by members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, US
President Donald Trump speaks at a press conference on COVID-19, known as
the coronavirus, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC,
March 13, 2020. (Photo: Saul Loeb / AFP)
Climate action groups and progressive critics expressed disappointment and
outrage on Friday afternoon after President Donald Trumpdespite a continued
failure to offer far-reaching support to the U.S. publicmoved to bolster
the bottom lines of oil and gas companies by announcing a massive federal
purchase for the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
"Based on the price of oil, I've also instructed the Secretary of Energy to
purchase at a very good price large quantities of crude oil for storage in
the U.S. strategic reserve," Trump announced during a White House press
conferencesurrounded by CEOs from major corporations, including Walmart,
CVS, and Targetin which he also declared an official national emergency in
order to combat the outbreak of the coronavirus.
"With this move, Trump has rolled out a plan to prop up U.S. oil companies
before he has even bothered to guarantee paid sick leave for US workers who
are going to be on the frontlines of the coronavirus crisis for weeks to
come."
Alex Doukas, Oil Change International"We're going to fill it right up to
the top," said of the SPR, but critics were quick to point out that move has
everything to do with helping his wealthy friends and cronies in the fossil
fuel industry, and nothing to do with helping average people now under
threat from the spreading pandemic.
"Trump has once again put the interests of oil and gas executives ahead of
the interests of people and communities," said Alex Doukas of Oil Change
International. "With this move, Trump has rolled out a plan to prop up U.S.
oil companies before he has even bothered to guarantee paid sick leave for
US workers who are going to be on the frontlines of the coronavirus crisis
for weeks to come."
The news came Friday as additional school closures were announced for states
nationwide, grocery store shelves were wiped clean, and worry continues to
spread about just how extensive the outbreak will become.
Greenpeace warned that the total cost of the oil purchase "could exceed $2.6
billion in public funds," a stark comparison when put next to the proposal
put forth by House Democrats just hours earlier. Introducing the "Families
First Coronavirus Response Act"(pdf), which calls for an estimated $1.7
billion aimed at helping working families and children to weather the public
health crisis, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "The American people expect
and deserve a coordinated, science-based and whole-of-government response to
keep them and their loved ones safe: a response that puts families first to
stimulate the economy."
By putting his adminstration's emphasis on bailing out the oil industry,
John Noël, a senior climate campaigner for Greenpeace USA, said the
president is doing the opposite of putting people first.
"Trump's response to a global pandemic is to put billionaires and corporate
polluters ahead of American families. There's no evidence that this handout
would protect jobs, pensions, benefits, or ease the hardships facing fossil
fuel workers or communities confronting the COVID-19 outbreak right now.
It's nothing more than a gift to the industry that created the climate
crisis."
Doukas agreed, calling it "wildly inappropriate" for Trump "to abuse the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a tool to prop up the oil and gas industry at
a time when the White House should be focusing on how to help everyday
people in the US."
"Where is the relief for workers grappling with caring for their families,
retail workers risking exposure every day, families grappling with debt and
mounting bills while their livelihoods are put at risk?" he asked. "No,
today President Trump focused on propping up polluting industries and
trotting out CEOs to sell their wares."
Despite the criticisms from those focused on the needs of families, it
appeared the announcement during what was dubbed Trump's "Shock Doctrine
press conference" had the desired result.
As CNBC reported, following Trump's late-day announcement, "crude futures
jumped 5%" in the last hour of market trading.
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