The Allegations

Robert Pender and Michael Sabel, founders and co-chairs of Venture Global, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company based in Virginia, acquired over a million shares, each valued at nearly $12 million, shortly after their March meeting with senior officials from the Trump administration. This meeting included Chris Wright, the energy secretary, who subsequently granted the company an export license vital to its expansion plans in Europe, as reported by News.

Political Reactions

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations and Budget Committees, stated, “Dirty oil and gas bucks are fueling the Trump Administration, which should outrage all of us. This latest reporting portrays a pattern of pay-to-play donations and favorable actions by the administration.” He emphasized that “the timing of the stock trades certainly merits investigation for potential conflicts of interest and insider trading.”

Response from Venture Global

In response to these allegations, a spokesperson for Venture Global asserted that the share acquisitions “fully complied with SEC rules and regulations,” asserting that the company “strictly adhered to all laws, rules, and regulations relating to our interactions with government officials.”

White House Comments

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “The president has never engaged, and will never engage, in conflicts of interest.”

Campaign Contributions

Sabel attended an event in April 2024 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, where he allegedly solicited $1 billion in campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry in exchange for favorable legislation. Venture Global was reported as one of the “top donors” to Trump’s inauguration, contributing $1 million, according to News.

Individuals affiliated with Venture Global spent $860,000 on lobbying efforts in Capitol Hill during 2024, with an additional $810,000 this year, as reported by News. This expenditure marks a significant increase from the previous high of $70,000 in 2019.

Environmental Implications

On his first day back in office, Trump issued an executive order reversing regulations that favored fossil fuel production, including LNG export licenses. He also revoked climate and clean energy policies and withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, a global climate action treaty.

Despite these actions, 2025 is on track to be one of the hottest years on record, with catastrophic floods, wildfires, and extreme temperatures wreaking havoc across the U.S. and causing billions in damages.

Merkley commented, “Altogether, the fossil industry and Trump team are producing expensive, dirty energy instead of cheaper, clean energy. The result is higher utility prices for American households and accelerated climate chaos.”