# Exxon, after Trump’s hypothetical bribery comment: ‘Just so we’re all clear, it never happened’

Trump was boasting about his fund-raising ability: “I call some guy, the head of Exxon. I call the head of Exxon. I don’t know. … ‘How are you doing? How’s energy coming? When are you doing the exploration? Oh, you need a couple of permits?’ But I call the head of Exxon I say, ‘You know, I’d love [for you] to send me $25 million for the campaign.’ ‘Absolutely sir .. would you like some more?’ ”

“If I made the call, I will hit a home run every single call. I would raise a billion dollars in one day if I wanted to. I don’t want to do that,” Trump said.

Late Monday, Exxon
XOM,
-1.99%
tweeted this statement, just to make it clear that the hypothetical “never happened.”

For what it’s worth, what Trump described — which, again, was a hypothetical — is illegal, as federal law bars policy favors in exchange for campaign contributions, and his comments got the hashtag #QuidProQuo trending on Twitter.