Our country is desperately trying to survive the worst health and economic crisis we’ve faced for generations, maybe ever.

So who did Donald Trump invite to the White House for a closed-door meeting yesterday?

Oil industry executives.

A little recent history:

Since the coronavirus emerged, Russia and Saudi Arabia have been locked in a price war, driving down Big Oil’s profits worldwide.

And with people everywhere cutting back on fuel consumption as they stay home and try to stem the spread of the disease, the industry’s profits are dipping still more.

Boo-hoo. Cry me a river. (But try not to, you know, spill oil in it, okay?)

We don’t yet know exactly what schemes Trump and Big Oil are ... uh ... scheming.

But we do know this:

• Big Oil is the most profitable business in all of human history.

• Its profits are a direct result of poisoning our air and water to the point where human existence itself is in peril.

• The industry outright lied for decades about what it knew about the damage it was doing.

• Just one company (Exxon Mobil) in just one year (2019) had revenue in excess of $275 billion.

• Since ripping a hole in the ocean floor and “spilling” 210,000,000 gallons of raw petroleum into the Gulf of Mexico during its Deepwater Horizon catastrophe 10 years ago, BP has made over $3 trillion. Trillion!

Despite all that, there’s been talk of a taxpayer-funded bailout for Big Oil.

Some of the largest companies are not — at the moment, anyway — asking for that. (Probably because they know they don’t need, or deserve, it, and because they’re hoping to buy up assets on the cheap when smaller rivals go under.)

Let’s be proactive.

Tell Congress: No bailout for Big Oil, whether they ask for one or not.

Add your name.

Thanks for taking action.

Stay safe.

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen

P.S. This message is part of our ongoing outreach to help you stay informed and involved as our nation and the world grapple with the coronavirus emergency. Public Citizen — like many nonprofits and other small businesses — is feeling the financial strain as this crisis intensifies. If you can, please consider donating to support the critical work we’re doing together. Thank you.
 
 
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