Latest news with #MAGAInc.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Eye-Watering Price of Meeting Trump One-on-One Is Revealed
If you want a private audience with President Donald Trump, be prepared to pay. Trump has been offering one-to-one conversations in exchange for a hefty donation to MAGA Inc., a super PAC founded in 2022 that raises funds to support the GOP President, The New Yorker reported. The price is a cool $5 million, according to the magazine. It is a hefty hike since December, when MAGA supporters could buy a seat at a group dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago for $1 million. But it follows a spate of White House schemes to raise funds including a crypto dinner that came in at $1.7 million a seat and was billed as the 'most exclusive invitation in the world.' The new cash-to-talk scheme has shocked even the staunchest Trump supporters who are used to buying influence in Washington, The New Yorker reported. But it's not clear whether the $5 million investment is worth it, or what's on offer besides an opportunity to lobby the president in person. Lobbyists have had success with the administration since the start of Trump's second term in January. Pilgrim's Pride, a U.S. poultry producer, was the largest donor to Trump's inauguration fund and a few months later the administration announced policy changes that benefitted the company, such as agreeing not to increase salmonella testing, the New Yorker said. Notable businessmen have also been seen to cozy up to Trump by paying millions into the President's coffers. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg settled a lawsuit with Trump, agreeing to pay the President $25 million after dining at Mar-a-Lago, the New Yorker reported. Elon Musk has all but entwined his business interests with the Republican administration - in the latest move, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has emerged as the frontrunner for a contract to develop Trump's new missile shield project, Golden Dome. Last Thursday, Trump held a private dinner with more than 200 global investors in his meme coin. Critics warned the event gave investors unprecedented ability to lobby the President in-person while Trump benefits financially from their investment in his cryptocurrency. Senator Elizabeth Warren described the event as an 'orgy of corruption.' Trump's money-making schemes extended to merchandise in April with the release of 'Trump 2028″ embroidered hats for $50. The cap comes in 'MAGA' red. Presidents are limited to two terms in the White House according to 22nd Amendment of the Constitution meaning Trump will not be able to seek re-election in 2028. However, in March Trump said he was 'not joking' about running for a third term. He told NBC News there were 'methods' that would allow him to stay in power, without providing details. Even if that proves to be a troll, the MAGA Inc. PAC's vast war chest gives Trump extraordinary staying power in a second term. No second-term president has previously had so much cash and already some it has funded advertising campaigns in seats held by Republicans in districts which Trump lost, seen as the most vulnerable to losing in next year's midterms, Axios reported. Trump wants to spend the cash not to benefit Republicans altruistically but because he believes a Democratic-held House would impeach him for a third time and wants to avoid that stain, thew outlet reported. The White House and MAGA Inc. PAC did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Daily Beast.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Issues Not-So-Coincidental Pardon of Massive Tax Cheat
Paul Walzack, a former nursing home executive guilty of tax fraud, got a full and unconditional pardon from President Trump after his mother attended a $1 million-per-person dinner with the president, according to The New York Times. His mother, a major Trump supporter, also happened to be involved in the 2020 plot to publicize Ashley Biden's stolen diary. Walzack was found guilty of stealing over $10 million from the paychecks of the nurses and doctors who worked for him to finance a yacht and other luxury items. He was charged in February 2023 on 13 counts of tax crimes, and eventually pleaded guilty and paid $4.4 million in restitution as Trump won back the White House in November. Walzack initially received no response from the Trump administration regarding a pardon request he submitted around Inauguration Day. But in April his mother, Elizabeth Fago, attended a $1 million entry dinner that included guaranteed face time with the president. The dinner was sponsored by MAGA Inc., a PAC that backs causes and candidates supported by Trump. It's not clear whether Fago donated to MAGA Inc., or how much, but three weeks later her son got his pardon. Walzack and his mother are well established within the MAGAverse. Fago has donated millions of dollars to GOP campaigns. She's hosted at least three Trump fundraisers and went to the VIP portions of both Trump inaugurations, where she cozied up to the president in photos posted on her Instagram. Fago was also deeply involved in a scheme to publicize the diary of Ashley Biden, former President Joe Biden's daughter, after she left it at a beach house in Florida. Aimee Harris, and Robert Kurlander, the individuals who stole the diary, brought it to a fundraiser at Fago's home in 2020 where it was shown to a Trump campaign organizer. Harris was sentenced to a month in prison and Kurlander is awaiting sentencing. This is yet another example of Trump's flippant use of his executive pardon power. Show him some loyalty, and some money, and you could get out of jail too.
Axios
07-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Scoop: Trump aides dump 1 of the 2 Arizona governor candidates he backed
Three of President Trump 's top political lieutenants are abandoning the campaign of Arizona gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson amid a flap that led Trump to simultaneously endorse a second Republican in the 2026 primary. Driving the news: The exodus from Robson's campaign came after Trump's advisers spent months urging her to air TV ads promoting his endorsement — which she'd promised to do, according to three people familiar with the situation. The backstory: Trump endorsed Robson in December, leading her to get help from the president's political apparatus. But on April 22, Trump announced that he was simultaneously endorsing GOP Rep. Andy Biggs, a sign that the president was hedging his bet on the Arizona race. This week, former Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita and chief Trump campaign strategist Tony Fabrizio, who was the president's chief campaign strategist, quit their jobs advising Robson, according to the three sources who spoke with Axios. Chris Grant, a leader of MAGA Inc., the main pro-Trump super PAC, also left. What they're saying: "It takes special skill to botch a GOP primary with the Trump endorsement, but unfortunately that's what this candidate has single-handedly assured," one GOP strategist told Axios. "It's basically the greatest self-own in GOP political history." Robson's campaign declined to comment. A Robson ally rejected the Trump team's claims that she'd promised to run the ads in the time frame they requested. Zoom in: Trump aides had told Robson that by running ads highlighting the president's endorsement, she could solidify backing from his voters in the swing state and make it harder for Biggs to get Trump's backing. Robson, a wealthy lobbyist and businesswoman, indicated that she planned to dip into her personal bank account to pay for the ads, the aides contended. But Trump's team felt misled when Robson waited to air the ads. "She won't listen to anyone else, so she can run her own campaign now," said one person briefed on the Trump aides' exodus. It wasn't until April 28 — more than four months after Trump announced his endorsement, and six days after the president said he was also backing Biggs — that Robson began running a TV ad touting Trump's support. Zoom out: Robson lost to the Trump-endorsed Kari Lake in the 2022 race for Arizona governor. During the 2024 GOP presidential primary, Robson raised money for Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor and Trump primary opponent. Trump's endorsement of Robson drew pushback from Republican activists such as pro-Trump conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, who said Robson wasn't conservative enough. "Respectfully, who is doing the vetting for you?" Loomer posted on X in a message to Trump.
New York Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
What We Know About Trump's $1.5 Million-a-Head Fund-raising Dinner
President Trump is speaking on Monday night at a $1.5 million-a-head fund-raiser for his MAGA Inc. super PAC at the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. The 'crypto and AI innovators' dinner is the latest in a series of high-dollar fund-raisers that MAGA Inc. has held in recent weeks. MAGA Inc. raised more than $400 million during 2023 and 2024, but has yet to report its totals in 2025. Three-fourths of its money has been spent against Democrats, but it also spends against Republicans. The super PAC's resources serve as a threat to Republicans who are opposed to Mr. Trump's agenda. Here's what we know about the event: Who's going to be there? Besides Mr. Trump, the speakers include David O. Sacks, the administration's so-called czar for A.I. and crypto. Mr. Sacks is also an ally of Elon Musk. The event is listed on Mr. Trump's public schedule, but it is closed to the press and few other details were provided. A representative of the PAC did not respond to requests for comment. Does this mean President Trump is seeking a third term? No. The money raised can be used to bolster the campaigns of candidates Mr. Trump supports in the 2026 midterm elections, or to try to derail those he opposes. Still, Mr. Trump and his supporters have repeatedly raised the idea of another campaign. 'Trump 2028' hats are for sale; some are seeking a change to the Constitution to allow a third term; and Mr. Trump has repeatedly suggested he might run again. However, Mr. Trump recently suggested Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio might succeed him. Who has donated to the MAGA Inc. super PAC? Rich and influential business people who approve of Mr. Trump's agenda have been among the PAC's top donors. Timothy Mellon, a wealthy banking heir and railroad magnate, gave $150 million alone. Three people who would become members of Mr. Trump's administration also gave handsome sums to the PAC. Before they were appointed to their posts, Kelly Loeffler, the head of the Small Business Administration, gave almost $2 million; Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary, donated nearly $9 million; and Linda McMahon, the education secretary, gave more than $20 million. Why is the president courting crypto donors? Didn't he say Bitcoin was a 'scam'? Yes, but Mr. Trump has changed his position as his family seeks to make a profit off cryptocurrencies. Mr. Trump once said that the most famous cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, seemed 'like a scam,' and argued it was a rival to the dollar, which he said he wanted to make strong. But during his 2024 campaign Mr. Trump found common cause with crypto investors. He has since promised to be America's 'first crypto president,' and signed an executive order to promote the growth of the industry. The president's oldest sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, are now involved in two cryptocurrency ventures based in the United States. Mr. Trump himself will be involved in a second event this month seeking money from the crypto community. Investors in a venture called the $Trump memecoin are bidding to become the top 220 owners of the collectible coin and win a dinner with the president on May 22. That move has raised some ethical concerns. Mr. Trump was asked during an interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press' whether he was profiting off the presidency through cryptocurrencies. 'I'm not profiting from anything,' Mr. Trump said. But when the host Kristen Welker pressed him again, the president responded: 'If I own stock in something, and I do a good job, and the stock market goes up, I guess I'm profiting.'
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's crypto dinner, where plates cost $1.5m, draws ethics concerns as president could make millions from meme coin
President Donald Trump is expected to bring in millions of dollars over the next month as he hosts two cryptocurrency-focused, lucrative dinners – one of which costs a whopping $1.5 million to attend. On Monday evening, Trump will attend the 'Crypto & AI Innovators Dinner,' hosted by MAGA Inc., a super PAC that supports the president. The event, which costs $1.5 million per plate, will feature special guest David Sacks, NBC News reported. Though MAGA Inc. supports Trump, he is unable to run for a third term, so it's unclear where that funding will go. Then on Thursday, May 22, Trump is slated to attend a dinner for the top 220 investors in his memecoin, $Trump. Around 80 percent of the memecoin's supply is controlled by the Trump Organization and its affiliates. Both events are part of Trump's push to get more people invested in crypto and make the United States the 'crypto capital of the world.' In January, Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for the U.S. and directed his administration to promote the use of blockchain. But the president's desire to integrate crypto more with the U.S. has worried some who believe his personal endeavors with his memecoin and crypto company, World Liberty Financial, could pose a conflict of interest. State Democracy Defenders Action, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting election sabotage and autocracy, said in a recent report that Trump will 'likely profit from the very policies he is pursuing.' 'The regulation of digital assets is in its nascency, but rather than divest his crypto assets to avoid any possible conflict of interest, President Trump seems to have positioned himself to maximize profiting from them by adopting a less aggressive regulatory and enforcement program than his predecessor,' the group wrote. a nonpartisan advocacy group that checks powerful individuals in Washington, criticized the president for holding a dinner for top investors in his memecoin. 'Never in U.S. presidential history has there been a more nakedly corrupt self-enriching scheme,' Tony Carrk, the executive director at Accountable.U.S., said in a statement. 'The President is openly inviting investors to have a bidding war over who can buy the most access to him while he laughs all the way to the bank. There has never been a clearer case of a President using their office to put money in their pocket, or greater potential for special interests to buy an administration's favor that could threaten the public interest,' Carrk added. Trump's memecoin peaked in value at approximately $70 after launching in January, but since announcing his exclusive dinner competition, it's surged around 60 percent. Trump has likely made millions from his memecoin, with one Reuters report from February estimating the president had $100 million in trading fees alone.
