Key Points
- Reynolds donated $5 million;
- FDA issued new vape policy;
- Trump met tobacco executives;
- Makary later resigned.
2Firsts
May 21, 2026
According to The New York Times, U.S. tobacco company Reynolds American donated $5 million to “MAGA Inc.,” a Trump-backed super PAC, shortly before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration introduced a new vaping policy that could benefit major tobacco companies.
Campaign finance filings disclosed Wednesday night showed the contribution was made through a Reynolds subsidiary, bringing the subsidiary’s total donations to MAGA Inc. to $8 million.
The report said the donation was made on April 30, 2026.
Two days later, a Reynolds American executive and two company lobbyists attended a lunch with President Donald Trump at his golf club in Jupiter, Florida.
Two executives from Altria also attended the meeting.
According to The New York Times, tobacco industry representatives expressed dissatisfaction with the FDA’s regulation of vaping products during the lunch.
Three people briefed on the meeting said Trump interrupted the discussion and called FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.
When Makary did not answer, Trump reportedly contacted Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz.
The sources said Trump complained about the FDA’s regulation of e-cigarettes during the calls.
Less than one week later, the FDA released new vaping guidance.
Under the policy, vaping and related nicotine products with completed PMTA applications would not face enforcement action before final scientific review is completed.
The report said the policy could open the door for major tobacco companies to sell flavored vaping products and compete for a share of the approximately $6 billion U.S. e-cigarette market currently dominated in part by illegal Chinese vaping products.
The policy could also allow higher nicotine levels in nicotine pouch products.
According to the report, the policy bypassed the FDA’s traditional rule-making process.
However, it also included a commitment to prioritize enforcement against illegal imported vaping products, an approach that has bipartisan support in Congress.
The New York Times reported that FDA Commissioner Makary resigned four days after the policy announcement.
According to the report, Makary told associates he could not continue leading an agency that supported such a policy.
The developments have intensified scrutiny over ties between the Trump administration and the tobacco industry.
Major U.S. tobacco companies have increasingly pushed for expanded authorization of flavored vaping and nicotine pouch products as traditional cigarette consumption declines.
At the same time, public health groups continue warning that flavored vaping products may increase youth nicotine use.
（Cover Image source: The New York Times）
