Trump’s inaugural was richest in history
Bruce Tubaugh wasn’t necessarily trying to become part of history.
He gave $500 to Donald Trump’s inaugural because “this country’s a mess. People don’t respect the American flag. People don’t respect religion. ... Donald Trump was the candidate who was not going to put up with it anymore.”
But the check from the Lancaster general contractor who farms, remodels houses
and conducts radon testing became part of a record-smashing $ 106.7 million haul for the Trump festivities — doubling the previous best set by Barack Obama in 2009, records with the Federal Election Commission show.
Ohioans contributed about $ 2 million toward the total raised by the man who promised to drain the swamp of special interests in Washington.
Half of that amount came from two financial institutions: $500,000 each from JP Morgan Chase and longtime GOP backer American Financial Group. ( Quicken Loans, run by Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, contributed $750,000, but it’s based in Detroit.) Trump wants to lessen regulations on banks and other financial institutions.
About $400,000 more came from mining interests in eastern Ohio, while Middletown Tube Works President and CEO Angela Phillips added $ 160,000. Trump has promised to bring back coal miners’ jobs and wants to roll back environmental regulations.
“Given that Hillary Clinton publicly stated that she was ‘gonna put a lot of coal miners and coal companies outta business,’ Murray Energy Corp. chose to support President Trump, who has been a staunch defender of the United States’ coal industry, and the jobs and family livelihoods that depend on it; low- cost electricity for all Americans; and all American working families,” said Gary Broadbent, the coalmining company’s assistant general counsel.
Other energy interests from across the country poured in money for Trump’s celebration. Kelcy Warren, CEO of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, gave $250,000. ETP is building the controversial Dakota Access pipeline. Within weeks of the inaugural, Trump signed an executive order directing the Army Corps of Engineers to grant a final easement for the pipeline.
The top overall donor was billionaire casino operator Sheldon Adelson, who gave $ 5 million. At least six National Football League franchise owners each gave Trump’s inaugural committee $ 1 million, while millions more came from companies that lobby the federal government, the Center for Public Integrity found.
The Washingtonbased nonprofit noted that inaugural donors in the “$1,000,000+” tier were to receive four tickets to a “leadership luncheon” billed as “an exclusive event with select cabinet appointees and House and Senate leadership to honor our most generous inaugural supporters.” Donors in the $ 500,000 tier got access to a dinner with Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, a candlelight dinner with Trump and Pence and other activities.
“The amount of funds raised for the inaugural celebration allowed the president to give the American people, those both at home and visiting Washington, a chance to experience the incredible moment in our democracy where we witness the peaceful transition of power, a cornerstone of
“I think every family at some time should go to ( an) inaugural. You get to see the peaceful transition of power.”
— Marilyn Reid, Dayton-area lawyer
American democracy,” said Tom Barrack, head of Trump’s inaugural committee, in a statement.
Not everyone benefited from the fanciest parties.
Marilyn Reid, a Dayton-area lawyer, former state representatives and former chairwoman of the Greene County Republican Party, was listed as giving $300 — but that was for six tickets to one of the inaugural balls.
She traveled with her three sons, their wives and the grandkids to the inaugural.
“They loved it,” she said.
“I think every family at some time should go to ( an) inaugural. You get to see the peaceful transition of power.”