Donor List Suggests Scale of Trump’s Pay-for-Access Operation

The New York Times – gift article – “…A new disclosure shows how corporations and individuals, including many in the crypto business, wrote big checks while seeking favor from the president…Since Mr. Trump’s election last fall, fund-raisers and lobbyists have been steering corporations and donors to a buffet of options for unlimited giving, some of which are less overtly political or allow anonymous donations, that can bring access to the president. The president’s inaugural committee raised a record-shattering $239 million, including about $18 million from crypto interests and $1 million each from tech giants like Meta and Amazon that had drawn his ire in the past and were looking to smooth things over headed into his second term. A nonprofit group called Securing American Greatness, which is affiliated with MAGA Inc. but is not required to disclose its donors, can accept cash from interests willing to pay for access without the controversy that can come with having that known. Even the White House Historical Association has become a vehicle for lobbyists and favor seekers After the dinner at Mar-a-Lago, the lobbyist who arranged Mr. Schiermeyer’s attendance brokered a $200,000 donation to the historical association from his company, Blockchain Game Partners. It does business as Gala Games, producing video games and other entertainment as well as a virtual payment system…”