Billionaire oil executive Harold Hamm is hosting a private Inauguration Day event near the White House, celebrating Donald Trump’s return to power and his pro-fossil fuel policies.
Lisa Friedman reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Harold Hamm, founder of Continental Resources, organized the event, having donated over $4.3 million to support Trump’s campaign.
- The invitation-only celebration includes sponsors like Liberty Energy and the American Petroleum Institute, with plans to showcase energy policy priorities aligned with Trump’s administration.
- Doug Burgum, Trump's Interior Department nominee, declined the invitation, opting to participate in formal proceedings instead.
Key quote:
“This is an invite-only, high-dollar event for folks seeking access to the incoming Trump administration.”
— Tyson Slocum, director of the watchdog group Public Citizen’s energy program
Why this matters:
Private events like this can offer top industry leaders unique access to policymakers shaping U.S. energy strategy. Trump’s administration has promised major rollbacks of environmental regulations and boost fossil fuel production, raising concerns about the long-term impact on public lands, climate policies and emissions.
Read more: Trump prepares swift energy policy reversals as Inauguration Day nears
