Trump raised ₹18,000 cr in donations in a year:US President granted favours worth crores, claims report; Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, 4 other Indian-origin names on the list

A New York Times investigation revealed that after Donald Trump became president for the second time in the US, his team raised around $2 billion in donations (around Rs 18 thousand crore )for various funds and schemes. The same after investigating government documents, funding records, and interviewing several people claimed that there were at least 346 major donors, who contributed around $250,000 or more each. Additionally, more than $500 million for the fund came from these individuals alone. Approximately 200 of these high-net-worth donors who contributed to Trump’s fund were benefited from the decisions of the Trump administration. These donors include 6 Indian-origin businessmen like Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella. These benefits include receiving a pardon from the President, legal cases being dropped, their company receiving large government contracts, or someone gaining direct access to the White House or being given a high position in the government. However, the report also states that it is difficult to prove that someone paid money and received a direct benefit in return, but this relationship between money and benefits certainly raises questions. How did Trump’s team raise these funds? Trump’s team created several different avenues to raise money. The biggest among them is MAGA (Make America Great Again) Inc., which is a Super PAC. A PAC is an organisation that collects money for politics and uses that money to support a candidate or party. It raised about $200 million between November 2024 and June 2025. In addition, the committee formed for Trump’s inauguration ceremony raised about $240 million, which is the highest in the US’s history. Not only this, but funds are also being raised to build a magnificent ballroom in the White House. Trump says that about $350 million has been raised for this, although the Times has received confirmation of donors worth about $100 million. This money is being collected through an organization called ‘Trust for the National Mall’. No need to disclose the names of donors In addition, money was also raised for ‘America250’, an organisation formed for programs celebrating 250 years of the US’s independence, the White House Historical Association, and a political group, Securing American Greatness. In many of these places, it is not necessary to make the names of donors public, so the entire system remains largely secret. According to the report, Trump himself keeps an eye on who is donating how much money. His fundraising chief, Meredith O’Rourke, regularly updates him. Many lobbyists advise their clients that donating to these organisations can be beneficial if they want Trump’s attention and access. In Exchange for Donations, Some Became Ambassadors, Others Received Contracts The report states that a woman gave $2.5 million to MAGA Inc., and a few months later, her father received a very lenient sentence from the Justice Department in a bribery case. Similarly, an engineering company, Parsons, donated $2.5 million for the Ballroom Project and is in the running for billions of dollars in government contracts, such as Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense system. The CEO of video game company Roblox also made a large donation and praised Trump’s AI-related policies. A couple donated over $1.5 million combined to the inauguration ceremony and MAGA Inc., and later their son was appointed as the US Ambassador to Finland. Tech company Palantir gave $10 million for the ballroom and $5 million to ‘America250’. Following this, it received hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts from the Trump administration, including building software for the immigration department. However, the company says that this was not due to the donations. Trump praised donor at White House Casino businesswoman Miriam Adelson’s foundation pledged about $25 million for the ballroom. Trump himself praised her at the White House and said that she had previously given a lot of money to his election campaign. Defense companies Lockheed Martin and Boeing also gave millions of dollars to the inauguration ceremony and other projects. Following this, they benefited from major government decisions related to fighter jets and defense. In some cases, Trump also granted presidential pardons to donors or people associated with them. The owner of an event company, whose company donated, was later pardoned by Trump. Similarly, the son of a woman who gave $1 million to MAGA Inc. received a pardon in a tax crime case. Cryptocurrency companies also gave millions of dollars to Trump-supported groups. Subsequently, the government dropped several ongoing cases and investigations against them and adopted policies in favor of crypto. Oil, gas, and coal companies also donated billions of dollars and, in return, received relaxation in environmental regulations and permission for drilling. Many Businessmen Traveled Abroad with Trump At least 100 major donors attended private dinners with Trump at the White House, went on foreign trips, and met directly with the President. On several occasions, they were featured with praise by the government on social media and in press releases. The White House, denying all these allegations, has said that Trump’s sole aim is the good of the country and donors should not be viewed with suspicion. The report also states that many businessmen and donors fear that if they don’t donate money, the President might get angry. Therefore, some people also consider donations a form of security. Trump’s Team Preparing to Raise More Funds Trump’s team is also preparing to raise funds in the future. In the coming months, large dinners will be held again, where those who donate millions of dollars will get a chance to meet Trump. There are plans to raise approximately $950 million for his presidential library. Additionally, a new campaign named ‘Freedom 250’ has been launched, in which money will be collected to create large programs and memorials to mark 250 years of America’s independence. Overall, this New York Times report indicates that both the method and scale of fundraising in Trump’s second term are extraordinary. Even if there is no direct evidence of bribery, it is certainly true that this has raised major questions about transparency and ethics in American politics. ​