Google and Boeing are the latest companies to have shared that they are making donations to the inauguration fund of incoming president, Donald Trump.
Both are reported to have given $1 million to the fund, adding their names to a list that already includes Meta, OpenAI, Amazon and Chevron.
CNN reports that the fund has raised the record amount of $170 million and could reach $200 million before the event, but the actual amount has not been confirmed by the fundraising team. The broadcaster adds that “…private donations are typically used to help pay for events surrounding the inauguration, such as costs related to the oath of office ceremony itself, along with a parade and glitzy inaugural balls.” It adds that any leftover money might be used towards a Trump presidential library.
The New York Times writes that demand is so great that “…prospective donors began to be told early this week that no more seats were available for certain events around Washington, according to the people briefed on the conversations.” The newspaper adds: “On account of the shortage of seating at V.I.P. events, some donors have taken the unusual step of offering donations as high as $1 million without receiving anything in return.”
Some of the companies that have donated do so for every presidential inauguration. Boeing told BBC News: "We are pleased to continue Boeing's bipartisan tradition of supporting US Presidential Inaugural Committees," and has paid into the last three funds. The BBC adds that Boeing has been commissioned with building the next presidential aircraft, known as Air Force One.
Google also announced its donation. "Google is pleased to support the 2025 inauguration, with a livestream on YouTube and a direct link on our homepage. We're also donating to the inaugural committee," Karan Bhatia, Google's global head of government affairs and public policy, told CNBC in a statement.
For big tech, the donations are being seen as a way to curry favour with the incoming president – especially for those companies, notably Meta, who have had a tempestuous relationship with Trump in the past. Some are under investigation for antitrust issues at the moment so getting on the right side of the new administration is a priority.
