President-elect Donald Trump is making history before even taking office! His upcoming inauguration fund has already surpassed a staggering $170 million — a new record! It’s clear that tech leaders and major donors are eager to lend their support by writing big checks to make the ceremony a memorable one.
With donations pouring in from all corners, the total could exceed $200 million by the time the fundraising wraps up. While the inaugural committee hasn’t disclosed how the funds will be spent yet, we know that they will cover the festivities surrounding the big day, including the oath of office ceremony, the parade, and those dazzling inaugural balls. And here’s an interesting tidbit: any leftover funds are expected to go toward the creation of a future presidential library for Trump.
This impressive fundraising haul is more than twice what President Joe Biden raised for his inauguration just four years ago — Biden collected around $62 million. And Trump’s first inauguration in 2016 also made waves, raising nearly $107 million.
So, what’s behind all these generous donations? Well, it seems that after Trump’s win in November, along with Republicans taking control of Congress, big-name donors — including companies like Amazon and Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) — are eager to strengthen their ties with the incoming president. In fact, both Amazon and Meta announced they’re each giving $1 million to the fund, and even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is pitching in with a personal donation of $1 million.
It’s shaping up to be an inauguration like no other, with plenty of support and excitement surrounding the event!
