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SpanishIn the ever-evolving landscape of public health policy, few issues have sparked as much debate as electronic cigarettes—or vaping devices. Once hailed as a potential lifeline for adult smokers looking to quit traditional tobacco, vaping has become a lightning rod for controversy, especially when it comes to youth access and regulatory oversight.
Enter Donald Trump, whose relationship with the vaping industry reads like a political thriller: a mix of bold campaign pledges, abrupt policy U-turns, and aggressive federal actions that have left industry insiders scratching their heads. As of September 2025, with Trump back in the White House, questions swirl about whether his administration is truly committed to “saving vaping” or if it’s waging an unintended war on the very sector he once championed.
The 2019 Pivot: A Flavor Ban Reversal
The Initial Crackdown Plan
To understand Trump’s current vaping stance, we need to rewind to 2019, during his first term. That year, amid a surge in teen vaping rates—peaking at around 25% according to CDC data—the administration initially proposed a sweeping ban on flavored e-cigarettes. Trump himself tweeted about the dangers, calling vaping a “new epidemic” and aligning with anti-tobacco advocates like then-First Lady Melania Trump, whose “Be Best” initiative targeted youth substance abuse.
Backing Off Amid Backlash
But then things changed. Vaping fans, small shop owners, and party friends from tobacco-heavy states pushed back hard. So, Trump stepped away. In a September 2019 talk in the Rose Garden, he said they’d hold off on the stop. Instead, they chose a slow plan. It targeted tastes kids like but kept menthol and tobacco kinds for adults. “We have to do something about these e-cigarettes. They’re providing a new and exciting form of addiction,” Trump said. But he quickly added he didn’t want to “destroy” the business.
A Partial Victory for Vapers
Business groups, like the Vapor Technology Association, called this a win. Trump later told crowds at vote events that he had “saved vaping.” Nicholas Florko from The Atlantic said in a 2025 NPR review that this wasn’t a brave save. It was more like pulling back from his own idea. “When he says that he saved flavored vaping, what essentially he is saying is that he backed away from a policy that he once supported.” The move gave the business some time. But most flavored vapes stayed in a unclear rule spot. The FDA’s “appropriate for the protection of public health” rule set a high mark for approval.
Campaign Promises in 2024: Vaping as a Freedom Issue
Rallying the Base
Fast forward to 2024, Trump’s talk during the vote push made his support for vaping louder. The Washington Post wrote about a key moment when Trump met secretly with Tony Abboud. Abboud is a top talker for the Vapor Technology Association and used to help Altria with legal stuff. After the meet at his Mar-a-Lago home, Trump promised to “save vaping” if he won again. He made it sound like standing up for grown-ups cutting harm against bosses who push too far. This matched a growing view among some on the right about the FDA going too far. It put vaping next to things like gun rights or help for small shops.
Vaping’s Role in Harm Reduction
For vapers, this felt like they were right. Checks by groups like the American Vaping Association showed 2.8 million ex-smokers say e-cigarettes helped them stop burning tobacco. In the UK, Public Health England says vaping is 95% less bad than smoking. Some U.S. experts agree. Trump’s words hit home in key places like Florida and North Carolina. There, vape stores are all over, and growing tobacco is still a big deal.
Policy Pledges: Deregulation and Fast-Tracked Approvals
A New HHS Vision
As the 2024 vote got hot, Trump’s support for vaping became a big part of his health plan talk. He criticized the Biden team’s stops, like the 2022 flavor bans and blocks on goods from other countries. Those shut down many small sellers. “The radical left wants to ban everything that’s fun,” Trump joked at a Georgia meet. He nodded to the free vape makers who support the $7 billion U.S. market.
RFK Jr.’s Bold Proposal
A key part of his promise was picking Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services (HHS) boss. In early 2025, Kennedy said he’d speed up okaying vaping items that meet simple safe rules. The goal was to clear the FDA’s pile of over 26 million asks from the 2016 Deeming Rule. This would make flavors like strawberry and blue raspberry okay, but only if they help public health by aiding adult smokers without pulling in kids.
Industry Mobilization
Helpers saw this as a big change. The free vaping part put money into Trump’s vote push. Ads from the Vapor Technology Association filled TV in key spots, telling voters to “protect adult choice.” Leaders like Abboud got close spots they never had. They held money events and told the new team about rule blocks.
The 2025 Crackdowns: A Surprising Turn
Federal Raids Shock the Industry
If vote time was full of good vibes and vape clouds, the time after the swear-in has been tough. By mid-2025, Trump’s team’s actions tell a new story—one of stronger checks. Government workers from the FDA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service went to sellers and shops in six places: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, and North Carolina.
The Scale of Seizures
These weren’t soft warnings. News tells of armed teams, taking goods, and catching people. They went after “illegal” vapes without okay before sale. One Chicago move grabbed 4.7 million pieces—worth $865 million. It was the biggest block from other lands in FDA history. Vape shop owners say teams like SWAT broke glass cases and took stuff worth thousands of dollars.
A Betrayal of Promises?
People who disagree say this feels like a “war on U.S. vape sellers.” A Florida seller told Vaping360 that after a raid, his shop lost 70% of its goods. It hurt his work badly. “We voted for Trump because he said he’d save us,” he said sadly. “Now it feels like we’re under attack.” The FDA’s rule checks sent warning notes 30% more than under Biden. This makes folks think there’s a gap between Trump’s talk and what the group does.
Big Tobacco’s Influence: A Hidden Agenda?
Lobbyist Connections
You can’t fully talk about Trump’s vaping rules without the tobacco talkers. His 2024 vote push got millions from Altria and Reynolds American. They own parts of vaping names like Juul and NJOY. The Washington Post’s big story on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago meet with Abboud shows this link clearly.
Corporate vs. Independent Interests
Folks like Matthew Myers from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids say Trump’s “save vaping” promise helps big companies. “It’s not about small shops; it’s about letting giants take over.” While free sellers face team hits, Big Tobacco’s okayed goods go through easy. This brings up questions about what’s fair.
Looking Ahead: Vaping’s Uncertain Future
Balancing Health and Freedom
Trump’s vaping rules show his team’s bigger health plan: fewer rules but picking who to check hard. Teen vaping rates dropped to under 6%. That’s a win. But grown-ups getting vapes is still tight. If Kennedy’s speed-up happens, a new okay path by 2026 could make 20-30% of goods real. It would help bring in tax money.
Political and Economic Stakes
In votes, vapers—a loud group on places like X (#VapeGate)—might turn from the party if hits keep up. In money, the $7 billion vaping market gives jobs to over 100,000 folks, mostly in red places. A full hard push could break free sellers, giving more power to big groups from many lands.
What Vapers Can Do
Buyers should stick to okayed goods. They can support studies on cutting harm. And they can push in their towns. Tools like the FDA’s “This is Our Lane” push let users report bad sellers. It balances freedom with safety.
Conclusion: Promises vs. Reality
Donald Trump’s vaping story splits into two leader times: the promise-maker of 2019 and 2024, and the hard checker of 2025. From backing small shops to okaying team hits, his plans show the vaping debate’s main pull—new ideas versus keeping safe. As NPR put it, Trump’s “save” might mean just getting by for some, not full help for all.
The business watches closely. They hope speed-ups beat the hard checks. For now, vapers move through a foggy time, one puff at a go. What’s your view? Did Trump’s actions match his words? Drop a note below—we’d love to hear from you.
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