Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin accused President Trump of pushing the FDA to approve flavored vapes after tobacco giant Reynolds donated to MAGA Inc. and dined with him.
The claim, shared in a post on X, alleges the move represents corruption that harms children and fuels addiction. The post has drawn strong reactions online, with many users disputing the timeline and arguing that flavored vapes were widely available long before Trump’s presidency.
In the post, Sen. Durbin states that just one week after tobacco giant Reynolds donated $5 million to MAGA Inc. and dined with President Trump at his golf club, Trump directed the FDA to authorize the sale of flavored vapes. He describes the sequence as corruption that is poisoning children and unleashing a new wave of addiction on America.
The post is purely text-based and does not include supporting evidence such as video. It attempts to link the donation or dinner to the FDA’s decision, but that connection has not been independently verified.
Online Reactions to Illinois Sen. Durbin’s Post
Many users disputed the timeline and accuracy of the claim. One commenter wrote, “That’s a “[expletive]” lie. They were selling flavored vapes long before Trump ever ran for office. I worked in convenience stores and sold plenty of flavored vapes, all before 2016, you moron.”
Others focused on Sen. Durbin’s long tenure and accused him of misdirection. “All these years in office and all you can do is lie and point holes in the air! What a despicable gasbag you are! Your term can’t end soon enough!” stated one response.
Another added, “Once again, Durbin is proving to be nothing more than a lying buffoon. It’s illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase those products. Durbin can’t go away soon enough.”
Several commenters pointed to state-level responsibilities in Illinois rather than national politics. One wrote, “Kids aren’t supposed to be vaping. Maybe crack down on all the damn smoke shops in Illinois selling to minors. But that would entail you admitting that it’s a Pritzker issue and not a Trump issue.”
The post has become part of the broader online debate over tobacco regulation, political donations, and youth vaping. Discussion continues on X as users weigh the claims against existing age restrictions and state-level enforcement.
