Why did Trump authorize the purchase of 30million barrels of oil, but

[Pryderi]

didn't buy ventilators?

[RockRaven]

1. Cuz he's an asshole?

[JHB]

2. Because ventilators are for sick people.

Weak! So weak! The weakest!

[magicarpet]

3. Because Jared negotiated a much bigger kickback from the oil industry...

.... than the medical equipment manufacturers offered.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. Buy low, sell lower.

Full disclosure: I authorized the purchase of $10 of gas this afternoon. It was down to $2.09.9 per gallon, and I was right there. I didn't have to drive anywhere. It could get lower. I didn't fill up.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Two of his major contributors are

Oil people. Harold Hamm,and the surviving Koch Brother.

[SWBTATTReg]

6. Because he was concerned about the health of the oil industry, being that Russia and Saudi ...

Arabia joined into a partnership to sell oil/etc. He wanted to support US oil companies. Like they really need help, eh? Pathetic. And worst of all, the 30 million barrels are coming from the US Oil Reserve (to be used in emergencies only). Oil prices and demand has been collapsing and I think that this is a stupid thing to do. Especially after seeing the markets collapse.

[Roland99]

7. Because they sold a boatload out of the SPR a few months ago (knowing prices would drop, my guess)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-15/saudi-supply-disruption-puts-huge-u-s-petroleum-stash-in-play

[kimbutgar]

8. Because he got donations from the oil and gas producers

If the ventilator companies get mf45 a kickback he’ll probably authorize the orders.

That said some reporter should ask him how much money personally would it take him to resign and let someone else take over? Money is his true God and the only thing he truly cares about, he wants to be rich like Putin.

[former9thward]

9. There is no shortage of ventilators at the moment.

Whether there will be in the future remains to be seen.

First, If the "infection curve" is flattened by restrictions of movement and normal business then more ventilators will not be needed.

Second, Ventilators are not just sitting around waiting to be bought. Only a few companies with limited production capability can make them. They are complicated machines with hundreds of parts made in various countries. Skilled people are needed to run them along with the supplies to run them. It is not a simple as you seem to think.