Trump Inauguration Donors: 'cesspool of special interest financing'

[essentialsaltes]

Research tracker exposes Trump inaugural committee as 'cesspool of special interest financing'​

The new research from Public Citizen includes a tracker that lists known corporate donations or pledged contributions to Trump's inaugural committee, which is tax-exempt and not subject to contribution limits.

Amazon, Apple, Chevron, Citigroup, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Google, Meta, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the pharmaceutical lobby, Pfizer, Microsoft, and Coinbase are among those that have pumped money into Trump's inaugural fund, which has raked in a record-shattering $150 million since Election Day—and could bring in over $200 million by January 20.

"These million-dollar donors come from a small class of very wealthy industries in Big Tech, cryptocurrency, government contractors, and others with lucrative contracts or business pending before the federal government," Public Citizen found. "Some of the biggest donors had long been critics of Trump, especially following the January 6 Insurrection by Trump supporters, and who are now fearful of retributions by a vengeful president."

Public Citizen noted Tuesday that "while the self-serving motivations of inaugural donors has a long and troubling precedent, the scope of donations and, in many cases, the fear of retribution driving the donations to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee represents a worrying shift."

--

Likewise, in the past Trump has targeted Mark Zuckerberg and others for jail -- at least until the money flowed in. Now they are guests at his inauguration. I mean, according to some, Zuckerberg spent $400+ million dollars stealing the 2020 election.

Trump Threatens Mark Zuckerberg with "life in prison"

 

[essentialsaltes]

Trump bullying business leaders into helping him build $500 million war chest: report​

[this is not just for the inauguration, but also his superPAC, his presidential library fund, etc.]

The former and impending president doesn't want to be seen as a lame duck after returning for a non-consecutive second term, even though he's constitutionally prohibited from running again, so he's stockpiling cash to help his GOP allies and punish anyone who steps out of line, reported Axios.

"The money is just pouring in at Mar-a-Lago," said one of five Trumpadvisers who talked to Axios. "Trump doesn't have to lift a finger. Everyone's coming to him. We're looking at half a billion [dollars] by June, and we're on track.

"It used to be $1 million was a big number," that adviser said. "Now we're looking at some folks giving like $10 [million] or $20 million."

Trump has reportedly kept a grievance list of GOP donors and business leaders who stopped giving after the Jan. 6 insurrection four years ago, and insiders say he has pulled out corporate balance sheets during meetings with business leaders to pressure them into resuming donations.

"We don't want to get DOGE'd," one lobbyist told Axios.

Nice shakedown. I hope the moms on food stamps have been able to pay him off.

 

[Chesterton]

Companies are donating like they do to every president every four years, but it's Trump so they have to spin it like he's Darth Vader or Dr. Evil or something. Ridiculous.

 

[HarleyER]

Research tracker exposes Trump inaugural committee as 'cesspool of special interest financing'​

The new research from Public Citizen includes a tracker that lists known corporate donations or pledged contributions to Trump's inaugural committee, which is tax-exempt and not subject to contribution limits.

Amazon, Apple, Chevron, Citigroup, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Google, Meta, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the pharmaceutical lobby, Pfizer, Microsoft, and Coinbase are among those that have pumped money into Trump's inaugural fund, which has raked in a record-shattering $150 million since Election Day—and could bring in over $200 million by January 20.

"These million-dollar donors come from a small class of very wealthy industries in Big Tech, cryptocurrency, government contractors, and others with lucrative contracts or business pending before the federal government," Public Citizen found. "Some of the biggest donors had long been critics of Trump, especially following the January 6 Insurrection by Trump supporters, and who are now fearful of retributions by a vengeful president."

Public Citizen noted Tuesday that "while the self-serving motivations of inaugural donors has a long and troubling precedent, the scope of donations and, in many cases, the fear of retribution driving the donations to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee represents a worrying shift."

--

Likewise, in the past Trump has targeted Mark Zuckerberg and others for jail -- at least until the money flowed in. Now they are guests at his inauguration. I mean, according to some, Zuckerberg spent $400+ million dollars stealing the 2020 election.

Trump Threatens Mark Zuckerberg with "life in prison"

Biden Inaugural Committee donors include Google, Microsoft, Boeing​

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/09/biden-inaugural-donors-major-corporations-456907

Funny, I can't find anything from Research tracker saying the same thing about Biden's inaugural although he had many of the same donors. In fact, if this wasn't from liberal Politico, there would be NO coverage as to who donated to Biden's inaugural with a quick Google.

I guess the smears and lies have started.

 

[essentialsaltes]

In fact, if this wasn't from liberal Politico, there would be NO coverage as to who donated to Biden's inaugural

Apart from the Biden inauguration committee's public release, referenced by Politico.

Trump has not done the same, so our knowledge only comes from the companies that have disclosed it themselves.

There's also the full context. Less than a year ago, Trump was saying Mark Zuckerberg should spend his life in prison. Similarly, there were complaints about other tech giants not treating him fairly. Now the Zuckerbucks go into Trump's funds and Zuck will be on the inaugural stage with Trump.

If the MAGA faithful were upset at how Zuckerberg supported free and fair elections in 2020, this flip flop on Trump's part should give them some pause.

 

[Chesterton]

If the MAGA faithful were upset at how Zuckerberg supported free and fair elections in 2020, this flip flop on Trump's part should give them some pause.

If you were to become a sensible conservative, I would give you a handshake and a hug.

 

[HarleyER]

Apart from the Biden inauguration committee's public release, referenced by Politico.

Trump has not done the same, so our knowledge only comes from the companies that have disclosed it themselves.

There's also the full context. Less than a year ago, Trump was saying Mark Zuckerberg should spend his life in prison. Similarly, there were complaints about other tech giants not treating him fairly. Now the Zuckerbucks go into Trump's funds and Zuck will be on the inaugural stage with Trump.

If the MAGA faithful were upset at how Zuckerberg supported free and fair elections in 2020, this flip flop on Trump's part should give them some pause.

Frankly I agree with Trump about Zuckerberg. At the behest of the Democrats, he deliberately censored speech on Facebook, slanting the material towards the Democrats. This is what is known as election interferance and is a federal crime. But his action created Truth (Trump) and X (Musk) which seems to be much more geared towards free speech. The only reason he is coming around now.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Frankly I agree with Trump about Zuckerberg.

You mean the old Trump. New Trump welcomes Zuckerberg and Bezos and others he has derided in the past.

 

[Say it aint so]

Frankly I agree with Trump about Zuckerberg. At the behest of the Democrats, he deliberately censored speech on Facebook, slanting the material towards the Democrats. This is what is known as election interferance and is a federal crime. But his action created Truth (Trump) and X (Musk) which seems to be much more geared towards free speech. The only reason he is coming around now.

No. What was being censored was not material towards Democrats, it was material spreading misinformation during a deadly world stopping pandemic. Or do you think that's a wink nod to Democrats? And no, Musk is not providing this information of unfettered free speech. He bans at his whim all the time.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Research tracker exposes Trump inaugural committee as 'cesspool of special interest financing'​

Amazon, Apple, Chevron, Citigroup, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Google, Meta, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the pharmaceutical lobby, Pfizer, Microsoft, and Coinbase are among those that have pumped money into Trump's inaugural fund, which has raked in a record-shattering $150 million since Election Day—and could bring in over $200 million by January 20.

OpenAI partners with U.S. National Laboratories on scientific research, nuclear weapons security​

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the partnership at a company event called “Building to Win: AI Economics,” in Washington, D.C.

According to OpenAI, the new partnership will involve scientists using OpenAI’s technology to enhance cybersecurity to protect the U.S. power grid, identify new approaches to treating and preventing diseases and deepen understanding of fundamental mathematics and physics.

It will also involve work on nuclear weapons, “focused on reducing the risk of nuclear war and securing nuclear materials and weapons worldwide,” the company wrote.

 

[essentialsaltes]

WaPo analysis:

 

[Say it aint so]

WaPo analysis:

View attachment 364032

With the golf agreement with the Saudis, crypto-coin, and everything else the 47th presidency where a transactional figure sits, is just a straight grift.

 

[essentialsaltes]

'Bribery': Outrage grows as Trump drops cases against 17 firms that funded his inauguration​

An analysis released Monday in the wake of new Federal Election Commission filings shows that the Trump administration has dropped or paused federal enforcement cases against at least 17 corporations that donated to the president's inaugural fund, an indication that companies' attempts to buy favor with the White House are already paying off.

Bank of America, Capital One, Coinbase, DuPont, and JPMorgan are among the corporations that donated to Trump's inauguration and subsequently had federal enforcement cases dismissed.

"Apple donated $1M. Trump exempted most of Apple's imports from tariffs," Reich added. "Coinbase donated $1M. Trump's SEC dropped a major lawsuit against them. See how this works?"

 

[Aryeh Jay]

You have to pay if you want to play.