Since his victory in November, allies of President-elect Donald J. Trump have raised more than $200 million for a constellation of groups that will finance his inauguration, his political operations and eventually his presidential library, according to four people involved in fundraising. funds. .
It’s a staggering sum that underscores efforts by donors and corporations to curry favor with Mr. Trump ahead of a second presidential term, after a number of business leaders denounced him to following the violence perpetrated by his supporters at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Mr. Trump has promised to gut the “deep state” and made various promises to the industry’s supporters. Pledged donors for the inaugural events include Pfizer, OpenAI, Amazon and Meta, as well as cryptocurrency companies.
The total amount raised by the committee funding his inaugural festivities — at least $150 million raised, with more expected — will eclipse the record $107 million raised for his inauguration in 2017, according to three people briefed on the matter who requested the anonymity because they were not authorized to share internal financial information.
Other committees benefiting from this fundraising campaign include a super PAC called Make America Great Again Inc. and its associated nonprofit group, which is expected to be used by Mr. Trump’s team to support his agenda and the candidates who support him, while opposing dissidents. .
Mr. Trump bragged about the haul, telling people over the Christmas holiday season that he had raised more than $200 million since the election. Mr. Trump’s team has repeatedly highlighted how many people have wanted to find ways to donate to him since his election victory.
The Trump transition and inauguration committee did not respond to emails seeking comment on the fundraising.
David Tamasi, a lobbyist who has raised money for Mr. Trump, rejected the idea that corporate interests were donating to avoid Mr. Trump’s wrath, while acknowledging that some donors might try to redeem themselves because They had previously kept their distance from the president-elect. .
“It’s a time-honored DC tradition that businesses are enthusiastically embracing this cycle in every way, largely because they were on the sidelines in previous Trump cycles,” he said. “They no longer have to hedge their political bets. »
Inaugural committees can accept unlimited contributions from individuals and businesses, but not from foreign nationals. Large companies that try to avoid partisan politics have long donated to seed funds to signal their willingness to work with new administrations and their support for the democratic transfer of power, regardless of the new president’s party.
But there is cross-pollination among the top fundraisers for Mr. Trump’s inauguration and his political efforts, including several partners at lobbying firms that represent big business interests. Raising money for the inauguration can help lobbyists secure client access and build cachet with the new administration.
Among the four financial chairmen on Mr. Trump’s inaugural committee are lobbyist Jeff Miller and Reince Priebus, a former Trump White House chief of staff who is not a lobbyist but chairman of the advisory board of the lobbying firm Michael Best Strategies . . Their companies represent businesses with big stakes in the next administration, some of which plan to donate to the inauguration.
Mr. Miller’s company, Miller Strategies, represents Pfizer and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, each of which has pledged donations. Their leaders met after the election at Mar-a-Lago with Mr. Trump and his pick for Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in the middle concerns about how the pharmaceutical industry could be affected by Mr. Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic.
Since the election, Mr. Miller’s company has signed on to lobby for the ride-hailing technology company. Uberwhich donated a million dollars, as did its general director Dara Khosrowshahi. The firm also represents the technology company OpenAIincluding the general manager, Sam Altman plans to donate $1 million. Michael Best Strategies has represented the cryptocurrency company Ripple for almost four years. He has pledged $5 million in his own cryptocurrencyXRP – among the largest known donations to the inaugural committee.
After the election, Ripple retained lobbyist Brian Ballard, one of Trump’s top fundraisers.
Another Ballard client, Robinhood, a leading cryptocurrency trading platform, donated $2 million.
“We look forward to working with President Trump and the new administration to drive positive change in the markets, be an active voice for customers, and continue our mission to democratize finance for all,” Mary Elizabeth Taylor, vice president of global government and external affairs of Robinhood. business, said in a statement.
Other companies associated with cryptocurrency are also expected to be major contributors, reflecting optimism that Mr. Trump will deliver on his campaign promises to reduce federal control which, according to industry figures, has stifled its growth.
Amazon, a Ballard customer that found itself in conflict with the first Trump administration, said planned to donate $1 million in cash.
Donations of at least $1 million provide access to premium benefits package linked to several days of festivities in the run-up to the inauguration on January 20, including what are billed as “intimate” dinners with Mr. Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, although often with many participants , as well as blacks. -tie the balls after taking the oath.
Other entities, ranging from companies like Meta to former Trump critics like billionaire Ken Griffin, donated $1 million to the inauguration.
Contributions to inaugural committees, which must be publicly disclosed to the Federal Election Commission months after the inauguration, are one of the last major opportunities to financially support a president for his second term.
Mr. Tamasi and Oswaldo Palomo, partners at the lobbying firm Chartwell Strategy Group, raised more than $3 million for the inauguration. Their firm represents companies that could be affected by Mr. Trump’s proposed tariffs, including South Korean automaker Hyundai and a U.S. subsidiary of South Korean conglomerate SK Group.
The deadline to donate to the inauguration to be eligible for weekend benefits is Jan. 10, according to materials distributed to potential donors.
If the inaugural committee’s fundraising exceeds the amount budgeted for the festivities, fundraisers expect the excess to be transferred to the committee raising money for a presidential library for Mr. Trump after he leaves office. his duties, according to two people. involved in the effort.
The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Fund Inc. was incorporated in Florida on Dec. 20, six days after it was revealed that ABC News had agreed to donate $15 million to Mr. Trump’s future presidential foundation and museum. . Trump for settle a defamation claim he had filed against the network.
The fund was put together by a Florida lawyer, Jacob Roth, who has previously established Trump groups, including the inaugural committee, according to state corporate records. The entity’s purpose, according to Florida statutes, is to “preserve and manage the legacy of President Donald J. Trump and his presidency.”