Trump admits limited knowledge of donor Hildebrand as EPA moves to weaken methane rules
President Donald Trump told a reporter he does not know oil billionaire Jeff Hildebrand well, yet his administration is actively reversing Biden-era environmental regulations that benefit Hildebrand’s company, Hilcorp.
President Donald Trump told a ProPublica reporter via cold call that he does not know oil billionaire and major donor Jeff Hildebrand well, though he acknowledged the tycoon “does a good job.” The exchange occurred as the Trump administration prepares to weaken environmental regulations on “stripper wells,” low-producing oil and gas wells that contribute 6 per cent of US energy supply but are responsible for roughly half the sector’s methane pollution.
Hildebrand’s former lobbyist now holds a senior position at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is involved in rewriting these methane rules. An EPA spokesperson stated the official “fulfilled all his ethical obligations to the letter,” while the agency confirmed it is working on a proposal to “provide relief” to the oil industry, citing feedback that previous regulations were unworkable.
During the call, when the reporter mentioned regulations threatened by the “Biden methane rules,” Trump responded, “Certainly we do the opposite of what Biden did.” This suggests the administration’s policy shifts are driven by ideological opposition to the previous government rather than deep familiarity with specific donors or technical policy details.
Despite having no notable operations in Venezuela, Hildebrand pledged Hilcorp’s commitment to rebuilding oil infrastructure in the country during a White House meeting in January. Trump responded, “That’s good. You’ll be very happy.” This pledge came despite warnings from other executives, such as ExxonMobil’s CEO, who called the market “uninvestable” without legal reforms.
Andrew Logan of climate advocacy group Ceres noted that limiting methane pollution from stripper wells represents a significant opportunity to cut emissions in half with only a minor loss in production. Instead, the administration appears focused on rewarding loyalty and advancing a broader deregulation agenda, even as Hildebrand’s company faces scrutiny for numerous environmental violations.
