Trump Vows to ‘Save Vaping’ After He Approved Partial Ban as President
AP Photo/Jared Wickerham
Former President Donald Trump vowed on Friday afternoon that he would “save vaping” if he is elected to a second term in the White House.
Trump claimed President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris want to “ban everything” in a statement he posted on Truth Social. The former president also noted he helped put restrictions on some electronic cigarettes in 2019 which he said kept them out of children’s hands.
“I saved Flavored Vaping in 2019, and it greatly helped people get off smoking,” Trump wrote. “I raised the age to 21, keeping it away from the “kids.” Kamala and Joe want everything banned, killing small businesses all over the Country. I’ll save Vaping again!”
Trump received a fair amount of criticism in September 2019 when his administration announced it would go after all flavored vape products. Politico noted he later changed course in January 2020 and instead went for a partial ban. The outlet reported:
The Trump administration Thursday rolled out a limited ban on flavored e-cigarettes, enraging anti-tobacco advocates who called the measure a political capitulation that would cause more kids to become addicted to nicotine. The new plan will bar the sale of all sweet and fruity flavored vape pods and cartridges within 30 days but allow gas stations and convenience stores to continue selling menthol cartridges and vapes. It also lets vape shops sell a broad range of e-cigarette liquids in so-called open-tank vaping systems, which commonly are used by adults.
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But industry and political allies warned that such a ban would cost thousands of jobs and alienate voters, and Trump quickly softened his rhetoric, tweeting two days later that vaping could help people stop smoking. He backtracked further after convening a White House meeting in November with public health groups, tobacco industry giants and vaping advocates.
Harris supported a California bill that sought to keep electronic cigarettes away from minors during her time as the state’s attorney general in 2015.
