Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Companies that have donated to the most Trump pet projects, and why (graph and article from CREW)
www.citizensforethics.org/reports-inve...
— George Conway âš–ï¸ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸ (@gtconway.bsky.social) 2026-07-04T14:10:22.628Z
https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-reports/fifteen-companies-have-contributed-to-at-least-three-of-trumps-pet-projects/
All of the top 15 corporate contributors to Trump’s pet projects have business before the government or want something from Trump. Twelve (RTX, Palantir, BlackRock, Coinbase, Meta, Nvidia, Amazon, Exiger, Lockheed Martin, Chevron, Comcast, and Google/Youtube) have government contracts. At least nine (Chevron, Meta, Amazon, BlackRock, Coinbase, Google/Youtube, Lockheed Martin, RTX and Nvidia) have faced enforcement actions from the government in recent years, some of which are ongoing.
-snip-
When asked, Coinbase’s COO seemed to agree that their donation to Trump’s White House ballroom was to “keep good relations with the White House.” An executive at NBC Universal, a subsidiary of Comcast, justified the company’s donation to the ballroom on similar grounds: “If we have to name a ride after him at Universal Studios, that’s fine too, as long as it means they leave us alone.” From VIP invitations, to private meetings with the president, to promotion on social media, to policy wins—top corporate funders have benefited in countless ways from opportunities to curry favor and gain influence.
-snip-
But even beyond these events, the corporations who have donated to his projects have gained valuable access to Trump. Executives from 13 out of the top 15 corporate donors to his pet projects have met with Trump or joined him on travel or at events. Executives from Chevron, Coinbase, Meta, Amazon, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Altria, Lockheed Martin, Google, and RTX have all had private meetings with Trump. Palantir, Nvidia, Amazon, BlackRock and Google joined him at an event in Saudi Arabia during a trip to the Middle East, and BlackRock, Nvidia, Meta and Mastercard joined him on a trip to China.
-snip-
Trump’s second term has presented corporations with numerous avenues to direct money to the president’s pet projects. For the companies that can afford to make millions in donations, they are rewarded with support, access and influence. That is the textbook definition of corruption—and these companies are choosing not only to engage in it, but to triple down.
-snip-
When asked, Coinbase’s COO seemed to agree that their donation to Trump’s White House ballroom was to “keep good relations with the White House.” An executive at NBC Universal, a subsidiary of Comcast, justified the company’s donation to the ballroom on similar grounds: “If we have to name a ride after him at Universal Studios, that’s fine too, as long as it means they leave us alone.” From VIP invitations, to private meetings with the president, to promotion on social media, to policy wins—top corporate funders have benefited in countless ways from opportunities to curry favor and gain influence.
-snip-
But even beyond these events, the corporations who have donated to his projects have gained valuable access to Trump. Executives from 13 out of the top 15 corporate donors to his pet projects have met with Trump or joined him on travel or at events. Executives from Chevron, Coinbase, Meta, Amazon, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Altria, Lockheed Martin, Google, and RTX have all had private meetings with Trump. Palantir, Nvidia, Amazon, BlackRock and Google joined him at an event in Saudi Arabia during a trip to the Middle East, and BlackRock, Nvidia, Meta and Mastercard joined him on a trip to China.
-snip-
Trump’s second term has presented corporations with numerous avenues to direct money to the president’s pet projects. For the companies that can afford to make millions in donations, they are rewarded with support, access and influence. That is the textbook definition of corruption—and these companies are choosing not only to engage in it, but to triple down.
Emphasis added. That quote about naming a ride after Trump did make the news, but I don't recall seeing it posted here and searching all the OPs in the main forums for the word ride didn't turn it up.
From the Daily Beast on June 18:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/nbc-exec-makes-bombshell-admission-about-trump-ballroom-donation/
Speaking Wednesday at a training day for NBC-owned station news directors and NBC News investigative journalists, NBCU Local’s executive vice president of talent, strategic initiatives, and team impact, Anzio Williams, stunned participants by defending the donation, Status reported.
Williams argued the donation was worth it to facilitate the company’s ability to produce journalism, multiple sources said.
“If we have to name a ride after him at Universal Studios, that’s fine too, as long as it means they leave us alone,” he added, according to one source.
One source described the comments to Status as a “gut punch,” while other attendees reportedly voiced their disagreement to NBC management.
Williams argued the donation was worth it to facilitate the company’s ability to produce journalism, multiple sources said.
“If we have to name a ride after him at Universal Studios, that’s fine too, as long as it means they leave us alone,” he added, according to one source.
One source described the comments to Status as a “gut punch,” while other attendees reportedly voiced their disagreement to NBC management.