3 days ago
Trump-y ad blitz launched to sway the president on energy credits
A new business-backed group with GOP ties just launched a $2 million, three-week ad blitz to preserve IRA tax credits — and the framing is very Trump-y.
Why it matters: It comes during crunch time for hundreds of billions of dollars of tax incentives on the chopping block in the budget reconciliation fight.
The big picture: Built for America is placing ads on Fox, Truth Social, Rumble, podcasts and beyond.
"Unlike other efforts focused on Congress, Built for America is the only campaign speaking directly to the president and making the case that these energy tax credits are a cornerstone of his pro-worker, pro-growth agenda," the rollout states.
State of play: It's not disclosing specific donors, but backers include players in nuclear, carbon capture, hydrogen, critical minerals, storage and more, it said.
The executive director is Mitch Carmichael, a Republican who previously served as West Virginia's lieutenant governor and economic development secretary.
Republican strategist and former Trump campaign adviser Bryan Lanza is advising the new effort.
Driving the news: "Trump country is booming. We're building, hiring and winning in America, because energy tax credits put America first," one of the ads states, touting new jobs and manufacturing.
"President Trump, keep what works," it states.
Catch up quick: More business interests are pressing the Senate to soften House GOP budget plans that scuttle or restrict IRA energy tax credits.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in a new post, is urging preservation of what it calls "pro-growth" credits around hydrogen and clean electricity production.
The bottom line: Low-carbon energy industries are increasingly framing their message more around "energy dominance" and less — a lot less — around green goals.
