A substantial donation from the tobacco industry preceded the FDA's decision on vaping flavors.

According to a New York Times investigation, the Trump administration softened its stance on flavored e-cigarettes shortly after receiving a large financial donation from the tobacco industry.[1]. On April 30, 2026, Reynolds American, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco in the United States and manufacturer of Camel and Lucky Strike cigarettes and Vuse e-cigarettes, donated $5 million (€4.3 million) to the MAGA Inc. political action committee. This donation brought the total amount donated by the subsidiary to MAGA Inc. to $8 million (€6.9 million). A few days later, executives from Reynolds and Altria met with Donald Trump to criticize the FDA's ban on flavored e-cigarettes, a measure intended to limit vaping among young people.

A decision favorable to flavors, accelerated by the Trump administration

Following this meeting, Donald Trump reportedly contacted Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to express his opposition to the ban. Internal tensions reportedly arose within the administration, with some health officials fearing the impact of these products on minors. Shortly thereafter, deviating from its usual regulatory procedure, the FDA issued new guidelines authorizing major tobacco companies to market flavored e-cigarettes, including mango and blueberry flavors by Los Angeles-based Glas Inc. The condition stipulated was that these products not target minors by incorporating "« certain elements presumed to be attractive to minors, such as the depiction of a fictional cartoon-type character; the concealment of its nature as a vaping product; or the resemblance to a toy, a phone, or a children's gaming platform. »[2].

In addition, the FDA has authorized the continued sale of unauthorized electronic cigarettes and the increase of nicotine levels in certain nicotine pouches.

Marty Makary, the FDA commissioner, promptly resigned in protest against this decision. which he considers very worrying, risking to increase nicotine initiation and dependence among young people and non-smokers. The spokesman for the Secretary of Health, Richard Danker, also resigned and accused senior officials at the agency, close to Kennedy's office, of approving e-cigarette flavors that would expose children to "« nicotine addiction, lung damage, and an increased risk of cancer »[3].

Powerful interference from the tobacco industry denounced

The White House maintains that this decision is based solely on scientific data and studies suggesting that vaping can help some adults quit smoking. Representatives of the MAGA Inc. super PAC also indicate that the donations received comply with the legal framework.

Democratic lawmakers and several observers, however, denounce the close ties between the Trump administration and major corporations. They believe this case illustrates the growing influence of large private donors on certain public health decisions, particularly in the tobacco, fossil fuel, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence sectors.

Democratic Representative Seth Magaziner thus called the FDA's policy change regarding vaping a betrayal by the administration's supervisor, Kennedy. Although the Secretary of Health and Human Services built his image on the promise of "Make America Healthy Again" ("MAHA") by separating corporate interests from health policy, he has been accused of bowing to industry pressure on any issue, from food regulations to carcinogenic pesticides.« Under the Trump administration »Magazine said,« Money always wins over Maha. »[4].

For his part, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin called the decisions "ill-advised," suggesting they were motivated by industry lobbyists and campaign donors.[5]. " Congress set very strict criteria for FDA approval of these products, because we knew the power of large tobacco companies to entice children with appealing designs and flavors. »" he wrote.« However, manufacturers of electronic cigarettes and tobacco have not complied with the requirements of the law. […] Instead, they bypassed the FDA commissioner and went directly to President Trump to convince him to authorize the sale of their addictive products, in the absence of any proven benefit and legally mandated for public health. »,” the senator continued. He and nine other senators also wrote to the FDA’s acting commissioner, Kyle Diamantas, on May 15, 2026, urging him to revoke the marketing authorizations for fruit-flavored e-cigarettes.[6].

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[1]Kenneth P. Vogel and Christina Jewett, A $5 Million Donation From Big Tobacco Preceded FDA Vape Decision, The New York Times, published May 20, 2026, accessed May 22, 2026

[2]Sarah Rumpf, Trump's FDA Reversed Policy on Flavored Vapes One Week After Tobacco Company Donated $5 Million to PAC He Supports, Mediaite, published on May 21, 2026, accessed on May 22, 2026

[3]Arthur Jones II, RFK Jr. spokesperson resigns over fruit-flavored e-cigarette concerns, letter says, ABC News, published May 14, 2026, accessed May 22, 2026

[4]Stephen Prager, ‘'Open, Shameless Grift': Right Before FDA Ruling on Vapes, Big Tobacco Company Gave $5 Million to a Trump Super PAC, Common Dreams, published May 21, 2026, accessed May 22, 2026

[5]Sophie Brams, Durbin presses RFK Jr. to resist easing flavored vape regulations, The Hill, published May 21, 2026, accessed May 22, 2026

[6]Emma Rumney, US Senator Durbin urges RFK Jr. to resist easing vape rules, Reuters, published on May 20, 2026, accessed on May 22, 2026

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