Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration is expected to be the most expensive in U.S. history, with large companies contributing millions of dollars to support it.
Reports suggest that the fundraising goal has already passed $150 million, making it far more than the amounts raised for previous presidents like Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Many business leaders are visiting Trump’s team at Mar-a-Lago, where his transition team is based, hoping to build good relationships with the incoming administration.
They want to ensure they have a voice in government decisions and avoid being publicly criticized by Trump. As one expert, Brendan Glavin from OpenSecrets, explained, companies see this as both a way to gain favor and protect themselves from being targeted by Trump over the next four years.
The contributions come from at least 11 companies and trade associations, including Ford, General Motors, Intuit, and Stanley Black & Decker.
Ford and General Motors are also providing vehicles for the event, showing their willingness to support Trump in multiple ways. Even tech giants like Amazon, led by Jeff Bezos, and Meta, headed by Mark Zuckerberg, have pledged $1 million each to the inaugural fund.
Trump himself acknowledged the growing support from businesses, posting on Truth Social, “EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND!!!” This shows how companies are eager to gain influence with the administration, especially as Trump’s policies could bring big changes to international trade and regulations.
Michael Beckel from Issue One explained that businesses feel they need to “pay to play” in Washington politics. He said, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” meaning companies must stay involved to protect their interests.
This is why the cost of participating in politics is rising, with donations now seen as essential for gaining a seat at the decision-making table.
It’s also worth noting that many of these companies had stopped political donations after the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Back then, some firms paused donations because of how the media portrayed the event as an insurrection.
Now, with Trump set to return to the White House, those same companies are reversing their stance and donating again, seeing this as an opportunity to stay on Trump’s good side.
