Lobbyists Wine and Dine Lawmakers Behind the Scenes at RNC Convention
Despite a marked shift in GOP rhetoric, influence peddlers for major corporations held court backstage at the convention.
The Republican National Convention, held just days after the horrific assassination attempt on the party’s standard bearer, showcased a sense of unity and optimism. From the top of the ticket down, speakers sold a form of politics that catered towards blue-collar workers and “the forgotten man.”
The four-day event showcased a revamped party focused on Trumpian themes of middle-class populism, border security, and trade protectionism. In an unusual twist, Sean O'Brien, the president of the Teamsters, addressed the crowd, rallying attendees to join the fight against the economic elites who have plundered the country and created a “political caste system.”
Senator J.D. Vance, unveiled as Trump’s running mate at the outset of the convention, eschewed Republican economic orthodoxy around cutting the size of government or slashing taxes. "We need a leader who's not in the pocket of big business but answers to the working man, union and non-union alike," Vance thundered.
Trump, during his speech to formally accept the Republican nomination, promised a future in which no American corporation ships jobs overseas and a return of automakers from Mexico and Canada to the domestic market.
Yet much of the traditional donor class still held sway, at least far from the eyes of viewers at home. Major corporations funneled over $85 million to pay for the convention and spent an untold amount on private events throughout the week. Some of the largest donors were the American Petroleum Institute, a trade group for firms such as Chevron and ExxonMobil, and GM.
Backstage, representatives of America’s largest corporations hosted dozens of private parties and events to curry influence with the party:
– Akin Gump, the lobbying powerhouse, hosted a “toast to the House Ways and Means majority” at Il Cervo, a rooftop Italian restaurant near the stadium. The firm, which lobbies on behalf of Meta, BlackRock, and other corporate giants, was represented by former Rep. Kevin Brady, who now serves as senior consultant at the firm. Rep. Jason Smith, R-MO., the current chair of the powerful tax-writing committee, gave brief remarks. The event, co-hosted by Amazon.com, the Business Roundtable, and KPMG, featured half a dozen other GOP lawmakers.
– Jeff Miller, one of the highest-earning Republican lobbyists in D.C., organized a dinner at Mason Street Grill on Tuesday evening with leading lobbyists and VIP guests. Corporate representatives at the event included American Petroleum Institute's Mike Sommers, Altria's Todd Walker and Phil Park, IBM's Gary Cohn, billionaire banker Warren Stephens, ConocoPhillips’ Andrew Lundquist, and PhRMA's Chris Young. The political guests included Donald Trump Jr., former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Tucker Carlson, Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn.
– ACG Advocacy, a prominent lobbying firm that represents Comcast, General Dynamics, and Oracle, among others, hosted a panel discussion on "Antitrust Regulation and Intellectual Property in the Next Trump Administration" at the Milwaukee Athletic Club on Tuesday.
– The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a nonprofit that lobbies for larger military and international aid budgets and is funded by major government contractors, hosted a private talk on “Republican Approach to a Dangerous World.” The event featured Sen. Mitch McConnell and former Trump national security advisor Robert O'Brien. McConnell reportedly used the event to push back against Vance’s concerns about foreign interventions and war in Ukraine.