How did the Koch brothers impact the 2016 presidential election? Did they explicitly back Trump?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Dark Money<\/em>, award-winning journalist Jane Mayer explores the influence that the Koch brothers have had on American politics for decades. She includes a discussion of the 2016 election of Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep reading for a quick overview of the direct and indirect connections between the Koch Brothers and Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n In 2016, the Kochs weren\u2019t backing any presidential candidate. Instead, they were focusing on maintaining their hold on both houses of Congress and further cementing their hold on governments at the state and local levels, which they accomplished. According to Mayer, as far as Donald Trump, the Koch brothers were surprised by the nomination\u2014Trump gained popularity by painting himself as a self-made billionaire who, unlike his opponent Hillary Clinton, was not reliant on other people\u2019s wealth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leading up to the election, the Kochs seemed to oppose him. But, after his victory, Trump put together a transition team full of corporate lobbyists, many of whom had ties to the Kochs. Mayer notes that, though Trump had won on the claim that he would \u201cdrain the swamp,\u201d or rid the government of individuals who were devoted only to enhancing their wealth, he immediately began adding such individuals, appointing people to positions of power in which they could pursue personal financial interests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a whole, Mayer explains, the Trump administration began implementing policies that aligned closely with the Kochs\u2019 ideals, promoting fossil fuels, decreasing government regulations, and promising to dismantle the EPA, among other things. Though it remained unclear how much direct influence the Kochs would be able to wield over Trump, what was <\/em>clear was that their wealth would continue to have a heavy influence on the nation\u2019s politics for the foreseeable future\u2014even after the Kochs\u2019 deaths, as directed in their wills.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Koch Brothers & Trump<\/h2>\n\n\n\n