Several technology giants, including Apple, Google, and Microsoft, have been putting up sizable donations for Trump’s inauguration, and this transfer of funds has caught the attention of two U.S. Senators, who are now questioning these firms as the motive behind them.
Donations given for Trump’s inauguration are significantly higher than the sums Biden’s inauguration received; Apple’s latest amount is 23 times higher
The actions of these technology giants have been noticed by senators Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennet, with The Verge reporting that both politicians are now demanding the motives behind these $1 million amounts. To recap, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, OpenAI and Uber have each contributed the aforementioned amount, which would explain why some eyebrows are being raised.
The report also mentions that some executives like Mark Zuckerberg have already met with Donald Trump, with Meta’s boss hosting an inauguration party for the new U.S. President. While it would be simple to dismiss that Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennet have a vendetta against Trump, these donations surpass the amount given to Biden’s inauguration fund in 2021. While Uber gave $1 million, a filing with the Federal Election Commission reveals that Microsoft contributed $500,000, Google transferred $337,500, followed by Amazon at $276,509.
Lastly, we have Apple, who donated the lowest amount to Biden’s inauguration, with the figure discovered to be $43,200. In comparison, the $1 million figure for Trump’s inauguration is 23 times higher. At the time, OpenAI and Meta did not contribute at all, so it is no surprise that this regulatory scrutiny is happening. In a letter, Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennet stated the following, sending a loud and clear message to various technology giants that the increased donation amounts are raising questions about corruption.
“You have a clear and direct interest in obtaining favors from the incoming administration: your company and many other Big Tech donors are already the subject of ongoing federal investigations and regulatory actions. These donations raise questions about corruption and the influence of corporate money on the Trump administration, and Congress and the public deserve answers.”
Amazon has been tasked with answering these questions, while Apple, Google, Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, and Uber are being asked the ‘rationale’ behind these contributions. It is no secret that a funds pool of this size means that Donald Trump would introduce policies that would greatly benefit these firms, but it remains to be seen what sort of legislation is passed in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
News Source: The Verge