The Trump-Vance The inaugural committee is on track to set a record for inaugural fundraising, with pledged contributions surpassing its fundraising goal of $150 million as of Monday, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The inaugural committee had about $70 million of that in the bank as of Monday, and the remaining pledged contributions are expected to arrive in the coming weeks as the committee prepares for the president-elect’s festivities. Donald Trump’s second inauguration, sources said.
Not only does the projected revenue nearly triple the $62 million President Joe Biden’s inaugural committee raised in 2021, it dwarfs the $107 million raised by Trump’s first inaugural committee in 2017, which set a record at the time.
The inaugural committee is planning three days of festivities and exclusive events for wealthy supporters and donors beginning Jan. 18, including the “Make America Great Again Victory Rally,” a parade, a Sunday service, and exclusive receptions and candlelight dinners, according to the donor. Packages obtained by ABC News.
Organizers say the festivities will be “bigger than ever,” highlighting Trump’s status as the second former president after Grover Cleveland to be re-elected to a non-consolidated second term.
“There’s an absolute flood of interest,” said one Republican fundraiser, who told ABC News that corporate interests in particular feel more comfortable and motivated to donate to Trump’s inauguration this time around.
In addition to longtime donors, there has been increased interest among younger donors and donors in the technology industry, the fundraiser said.
In recent days, several major technology companies have announced $1 million in contributions to the inaugural committee, including Meta and Amazon, as well as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance, Republican vice presidential nominee, stand together at a campaign event at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan on July 20, 2024.
Emily Elconin/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Meta — whose CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, recently met with Trump at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago estate — is donating to a presidential inauguration committee for the first time. Trump said he recently met with Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook, and is scheduled to meet with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos this week.
A Republican lobbyist raising money for the inauguration told ABC News that the “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” to kick off the inauguration festivities on Jan. 18 will be a signature Trump-style event that will draw a “sustaining crowd.” He bonded with his followers.”
In addition to the victory rally, plans for regular inauguration events in the nation’s capital “are being very well received at the individual donor and corporate level,” the lobbyist said.
Planned inaugural events include a “Cabinet Reception” that, according to fundraising materials, will “recognize our most generous Inaugural supporters” and a “Vice President’s Dinner” described as “an intimate dinner with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Ms. Usha Vance.” . .”
As was the case during Trump’s 2016 inauguration, donors have different levels of access based on their level of contribution, with top supporters giving $1 million or raising $2 million. But this time, the lowest level is $50,000, which is double the lowest level from Trump’s first inauguration.
The Vice President’s Dinner on January 18 is open only to those who give at the highest level, and admission to Sunday’s “One America, One Light” service, featuring US military groups and the participation of Trump and Melania Trump, is available. those who give at least $100,000 or raise at least $200,000.
Admission to a “Candlelight Dinner” that night, which will be attended by Trump and Melania Trump, is limited to those who donate at least $250,000 or raise at least $500,000.
Biden’s 2021 inauguration, which was scaled back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, used a similar fundraising approach, but the top donor level was $500,000 instead of $1 million.
On Inauguration Day, January 20, there will be a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue following the swearing-in ceremony, and a black-tie “Starlight Ball” in the evening. Tickets to the ball are available to big early donors, though Trump is raising additional funds by offering small-dollar donors the chance to win tickets to the event by contributing to a Trump fundraising entity that has raised money for Trump’s campaign. Republican National Committee.
Some of Trump’s nominees entry cabinet positions — including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — were among Trump’s million dollar donors to his 2017 inaugural committee.
That committee has been embroiled in several court battles, including a lawsuit filed by the D.C. attorney general alleging the committee overpaid for ballrooms at Trump’s Old Post Office Hotel to enrich Trump and his family’s business.
Commission and the Trump Organization He paid $750,000 to fix the suit
ABC News’ Selina Wang, Olivia Rubin and Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.
