John,
“When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” — Martin Luther King, Jr., “A Revolution of Values”1
We’re thinking of the significant contrast of this day. We celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy on the third Monday of every January, but this year is different. This year we are also inaugurating a man who has shown utter contempt for marginalized communities, has enacted cruel policies in the past such as separating immigrant families, and plans to do so again during this second term as President of the United States.
Conversely, Martin Luther King, Jr. worked to eradicate poverty by changing our economic system to value people over profit. The incoming administration does not feel the same way―demanding more than $5 trillion in cuts to critical programs to pay for a tax scam that benefits the rich and corporations.2
Despite repeated calls for transparency, Donald Trump continues to withhold critical details about who is funding his extravagant inauguration.
Inauguration funds can open doors to influence and policy manipulation. Lavish, secretive donations could mean that special interests are buying favors.
We know that Boeing, Google, Microsoft, Chevron, Meta, Amazon, and Uber have all made million dollar donations and Ford Motor Company is donating a fleet of cars to be used during the inauguration, but there’s still too much we don’t know. Past inaugurations have cost as much as $100 million.3,4
Donald Trump’s inauguration fund has already raised $170 million and is on pace to surpass $200 million. The desire to curry favor with Donald Trump in his second administration is so big that even millionaire donors are being placed on waitlists or turned away from V.I.P. events because inauguration events are at capacity.5
Our democracy cannot be sold to the highest bidder.
Join us in calling on the House Oversight Committee to investigate the Trump Inauguration Committee’s funds and release a full report of who has donated to fund Donald Trump’s transition to the White House.
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This seems to be the M.O. for the incoming Trump administration. Shortly after winning the White House again in November, Donald Trump decided to forgo tradition and refused to sign an agreement limiting the amount his transition team could fundraise in exchange for receiving earmarked funds from the federal government. This allowed Trump to raise millions without having to disclose who donated to his transition efforts.6
The president-elect receiving millions of dollars from untold sources is a threat to our democracy. That money is donated to gain favor with the president and influence policies that benefit the wealthy and corporations―and some of the donors are pretty open about their motivations. In a recent interview Amazon founder and Washington Post owner, Jeff Bezos said:7
“I’m actually very optimistic. I’m very hopeful. He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. And my point of view, if I can help him do that, I’m going to help him.”
Our democracy must not be bought. The House Oversight Committee has the authority to investigate Trump’s inauguration funds. We need to call on them to act now.
Add your name to call on the House Oversight Committee to investigate Donald Trump’s Inauguration Committee funds.
Thank you for all you do,
Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, CHN Action
1 Quotes from Rev. Dr. King’s Last Years: “A Revolution of Values”
2 House Budget Committee: Spending Reform Outline
3 Boeing and Google each give $1m for Trump inauguration
4 Here’s why business leaders are spending big on Trump’s inaugural committee
5 Trump Inauguration, Awash in Cash, Runs Out of Perks for Big Donors
6 Trump Is Running His Transition Team on Secret Money
7 Jeff Bezos: The Interview
