TRUMP STEALS CREDIT FOR BIDEN-ERA $300 BILLION PORT REFINERY PROJECT; MAINSTREAM, SOCIAL MEDIA, AMPLIFY THE LIE

By Juan Montoya

On June 2024 – during the Joe Biden Administration and six months before Donald Trump's January 20, 2025 inauguration of this second term – Houston-based Elements Fuel Holdings LLC announced that it completed site preparation and pre-construction on 240 acres leased at the Port of Brownsville for a new hydrogen-powered refinery capable of producing in excess of 160,000 barrels, or approximately 6.7 million gallons a day of finished gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, operating under the name of America first Refining.

At the time of the announcement in 2024, it published in industry periodicals that the plant would be the first refinery built in the United States in 47 years. It was made possible funded by investments from Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries. Yesterday, three years later, it became 50 years in Trump's Truth Social media announcement. 

Despite being false, but true to form, he framed it as part of his "America First" energy policy, calling it a "historic milestone" in energy infrastructure and as a response to heightened energy concerns tied to rising tensions as a result of the conflict with Iran. 

Element Fuels announced back then – before they even knew Trump would be president – that the groundbreaking was scheduled to be held on April, 2026 and operational in 2027 and "will be the first of its kind refinery combining advanced, commercially proven technologies, provided by best-in-class partners.

"Designed to process exclusively high gravity domestic shale oil, the refinery will produce low-carbon intensity fuels that will materially reduce carbon emissions."

https://globalenergyinfrastructure.com/news/2024/06-june/element-fuels-announces-completion-of-site-preparation-and-pre-construction-for-hydrogen-powered-clean-fuels-refinery-and-combined-cycle-power-plant/

Trump took full credit for the refinery coming to Brownsville, which was then parroted by the public relations machine at the Port of Brownsville. 

PR Newswire amplified  the Trump social post, stating that "America First Refining announced a historic milestone in U.S. energy production: the construction of the first new oil refinery built in the United States in 50 years. 

"Made possible through the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and the success of his America First energy agenda, the refinery will be located at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, and will significantly strengthen America's long-term energy dominance."

The fawning and crediting of Trump did not stop with the paid public relations posts. The Port of Brownsville PR machine jumped right in, even though it knew better, and fully credited Trump for the refinery that was announced months before he was inaugurated during the waning months of the Biden administration.

Acknowledging that the plant had been in the works for more than a decade, the port posted a fawning item on their website stating that: "We are pleased to see this long-planned investment moving toward fruition and thank President Donald J. Trump and his administration for their support in advancing opportunities that strengthen America’s energy infrastructure."

Every other media organ in the United States and perpetrated the hoax, to use one of Trump's favorite terms. 

PR Newswire posted that: "America First Refining announced a historic milestone in U.S. energy production: the construction of the first new oil refinery built in the United States in 50 years. Made possible through the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and the success of his America First energy agenda, the refinery will be located at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, and will significantly strengthen America's long-term energy dominance."

In their original announcement in 2024, during the waning months of the Biden Administration, Element Fuels Holdings said it had acquired the necessary permits and completed site preparation "to develop and operate scalable, next generation clean fuels production on a new hydrogen-powered refinery and combined-cycle power plant within the (port) designed... to produce and recycle hydrogen using advanced technologies that will generate and deliver significantly cleaner, higher-quality fuels, including much-needed high-octane gasoline and electricity for commercial and consumer consumption."

"For years, investors believed building a new refinery in the United States was impossible," said Nick Ayers, a former White House official who served as Assistant to the President and incoming Vice Chairman of America First Refining. 

"President Trump's America First energy agenda restored the confidence needed to invest in large-scale American energy infrastructure. This project is a bet on American production, American workers, and the long-term strength of our domestic energy economy."

According to Elements Fuels, "the complex will increase the economy and improve quality of life for workforce members and their families by creating hundreds of jobs at above market wages. To further support the region, Element Fuels is working with local and Port officials to advance the Justice40 initiative established by the U.S. Department of Commerce to contribute to a climate-positive environment that provides residents of the Brownsville area and Rio Grande Valley with clean energy and affordable and sustainable housing."

Zoom News reported that "The project is expected to trigger a massive economic transformation in the South Texas region. Trump claims that the $300 billion investment will inject billions of dollars into the local economy and create thousands of jobs across various sectors, including construction, engineering, and operations. 

Under the agreement to build the refinery, Element Fuels claims that once operational, American First Refinery will use 1.2 billion barrels of U.S. light shale oil will be purchased and processed – a value of $125 billion, will produce 50 billion gallons of refined products – at a value of $175 billion. 

"Beyond direct employment, the refinery is anticipated to stimulate growth in ancillary industries and services. Trump linked this development to his broader economic agenda aimed at revitalizing American manufacturing and infrastructure."