Trump raised $239 million for inauguration, more than doubling his own record | World News
President Donald Trump raised a staggering $239 million for his January inauguration, shattering all previous records and more than doubling his own 2017 total of $107 million, The New York Times reported. The amount, revealed in a recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing, marks the most ever raised for a US presidential inauguration, underscoring corporate America’s intent to align with Trump as he re-enters the White House.
The Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, which organised the festivities, received at least $1 million from around 140 donors, including major corporations such as JPMorgan Chase, Delta Air Lines, Target, Meta, and Amazon. “The total… is more than double the previous record,” NYT’s Theodore Schleifer reported.
The largest contributions came from Pilgrim’s ($5 million), cryptocurrency firm Ripple Inc., and GOP donor Warren Stephens, who contributed $4 million on the same day he was announced as Trump’s pick for ambassador to the UK. Though the FEC requires disclosure of donations over $200, it does not mandate reports on how the funds are spent. The inaugural committee has not publicly detailed its expenditure.
Among previously undisclosed donors were Elon Musk associates John Hering, Ken Howery, and Keith Rabois—each contributing $1 million. Musk himself, despite being a presidential adviser, did not donate personally or via his companies.
Trump’s haul significantly outpaces historical norms. George W. Bush raised $30 million in 2001 (about $55 million today), and Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration raised $62 million, scaled back due to the pandemic. Trump’s combined total from both inaugurations now stands at $346 million—exceeding the combined nominal fundraising of all inaugurations since Richard Nixon’s in 1973.
Despite raising nearly a quarter-billion dollars, some seven-figure donors were reportedly denied access to key events due to limited capacity. Of the total $245 million accepted, about $6 million was refunded, including a $50,000 check from the Miss Universe Organization, previously owned by Trump.
