{"id":19966,"date":"2017-01-21T06:15:40","date_gmt":"2017-01-21T06:15:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=19966"},"modified":"2017-01-21T06:15:40","modified_gmt":"2017-01-21T06:15:40","slug":"donald-trumps-inaugural-committee-raises-record-100-million","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/news\/donald-trumps-inaugural-committee-raises-record-100-million.html","title":{"rendered":"Donald Trump’s inaugural committee raises record $100 million"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Donald Trump’s inaugural committee raises record $100 million<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Donald Trump’s inaugural committee raises record $100 million:-<\/strong> Organizers have collected about $100 million to help underwrite President Trump\u2019s inaugural celebration, aided by donors eager to back the real-estate developer once he secured the presidency, the inaugural committee\u2019s top fundraiser said Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Attracting inaugural donors \u201cwas much easier than the campaign because once he\u2019s elected, everyone wants to jump on board,\u201d Thomas Barrack, the chairman of the President Inaugural Committee, told USA TODAY as he left the traditional post-election luncheon attended by Trump, his family, congressional leaders and former presidents.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had low-hanging fruit,\u201d Barrack said, citing inaugural contributions from \u201cinstitutional donors\u201d who had not supported Trump during 2016 contentious presidential race.<\/span><\/p>\n

The record haul surpasses the $53 million collected by President Obama from private sources during his first inauguration in 2009. Trump\u2019s inaugural committee has solicited donations as large as $1 million and offered big perks to contributors, such as tickets to a pre-inaugural \u201ccandlelight dinner\u201d at Washington\u2019s historic Union Station, attended by Trump and other dignitaries.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Friday, shortly after Trump took the oath of office, billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, one of his biggest financial backers and a member of the inaugural committee, joined Trump and other dignitaries Congress\u2019 official inaugural luncheon in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall. At Adelson\u2019s table: Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and former House speaker John Boehner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Asked about his presence at the luncheon, a rarity for a political donor, Adelson told USA TODAY: \u201cI was invited by members of Congress.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He declined to answer further questions. \u201cSorry, I can\u2019t give an interview,\u201d he said and directed his motorized scooter through the Capitol Rotunda.<\/span><\/p>\n

Organizers have collected about $100 million to help underwrite President Trump\u2019s inaugural celebration, aided by donors eager to back the real-estate developer once he secured the presidency, the inaugural committee\u2019s top fundraiser said Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Attracting inaugural donors \u201cwas much easier than the campaign because once he\u2019s elected, everyone wants to jump on board,\u201d Thomas Barrack, the chairman of the President Inaugural Committee, told USA TODAY as he left the traditional post-election luncheon attended by Trump, his family, congressional leaders and former presidents.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had low-hanging fruit,\u201d Barrack said, citing inaugural contributions from \u201cinstitutional donors\u201d who had not supported Trump during 2016 contentious presidential race.<\/span><\/p>\n

The record haul surpasses the $53 million collected by President Obama from private sources during his first inauguration in 2009. Trump\u2019s inaugural committee has solicited donations as large as $1 million and offered big perks to contributors, such as tickets to a pre-inaugural \u201ccandlelight dinner\u201d at Washington\u2019s historic Union Station, attended by Trump and other dignitaries.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Friday, shortly after Trump took the oath of office, billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, one of his biggest financial backers and a member of the inaugural committee, joined Trump and other dignitaries Congress\u2019 official inaugural luncheon in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall. At Adelson\u2019s table: Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and former House speaker John Boehner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Asked about his presence at the luncheon, a rarity for a political donor, Adelson told USA TODAY: \u201cI was invited by members of Congress.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He declined to answer further questions. \u201cSorry, I can\u2019t give an interview,\u201d he said and directed his motorized scooter through the Capitol Rotunda.<\/span><\/p>\n

At a closed-door event Wednesday night honoring Vice President Pence, Trump ribbed Adelson for waiting so long to donate money to the outside groups backing his candidacy, according to remarks obtained by The New York Times.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trump has touted a populist message during his campaign and inauguration, but luxury has reigned at the closed-door events celebrating his ascension to the White House.<\/span><\/p>\n

A widely distributed brochure shows that contributors who gave $1 million were offered tickets to an array of exclusive gatherings, including four seats at Wednesday night\u2019s \u201cVice President\u2019s Dinner,” honoring Pence and his wife, Karen, eight tickets to the black-tie Union Station gala and four to a celebratory luncheon Thursday, attended by Trump, incoming members of his administration and top lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Thursday lunch was held at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, and it marked the second time in a week that the incoming president had stopped at the gilded downtown venue. He and his company lease the hotel from the federal government. \u201cThis is a gorgeous room,\u201d Trump said during Thursday\u2019s lunch gathering. \u201cA total genius must have built this place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Modern presidents typically raise private funds to help underwrite the balls, parades and other festivities associated with their inaugurations. But the high price tag sets Trump\u2019s inauguration apart, said Fred Wertheimer, president of the watchdog group Democracy 21.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need $1 million contributions to be inaugurated as president of the United States,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s excess run amok.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For corporate interests, donating to an incoming president is \u201cthe ideal way to buy influence,\u201d Wertheimer added. \u201cThere\u2019s no risk-taking involved here. Unlike donating to a campaign or a major contribution to a super PAC, you\u2019ve already got a winner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2017\/01\/20\/donald-trumps-inaugural-committee-raises-record-100-million\/96855848\/<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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