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Dozens of Trump’s biggest donors previously showed no major interest in politics.
I took a hard look at newcomers who gave at least $1M and could now shape the future of the GOP and American democracy.
Let's meet the MAGA Money... (THREAD) https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-spawned-a-new-group-of-mega-donors-who-now-hold-sway-over-gops-future
I took a hard look at newcomers who gave at least $1M and could now shape the future of the GOP and American democracy.
Let's meet the MAGA Money... (THREAD) https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-spawned-a-new-group-of-mega-donors-who-now-hold-sway-over-gops-future
These are just some of the new GOP mega-donors who Trump brought off the sidelines. Some of them share the same extreme views as many Trump supporters on the election, vaccines, masks & other issues.
TIMOTHY MELLON: $70M (pre-Trump donations: $305K)
Yes, like that Mellon.
The banking heir disparaged Black people & people who receive govt benefits, as @myhlee scooped in 2020: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/timothy-mellon-top-donor-to-trump-super-pac-used-racial-stereotypes-to-describe-african-americans-in-his-autobiography/2020/06/18/89206c5a-a742-11ea-b619-3f9133bbb482_story.html
Yes, like that Mellon.
The banking heir disparaged Black people & people who receive govt benefits, as @myhlee scooped in 2020: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/timothy-mellon-top-donor-to-trump-super-pac-used-racial-stereotypes-to-describe-african-americans-in-his-autobiography/2020/06/18/89206c5a-a742-11ea-b619-3f9133bbb482_story.html
IKE PERLMUTTER: $32M (pre-Trump: $6,600)
Marvel Entertainment chairman, Mar-a-Lago member. You may remember him from that time Trump gave a major donor sweeping influence over the VA: https://www.propublica.org/article/ike-perlmutter-bruce-moskowitz-marc-sherman-shadow-rulers-of-the-va
Marvel Entertainment chairman, Mar-a-Lago member. You may remember him from that time Trump gave a major donor sweeping influence over the VA: https://www.propublica.org/article/ike-perlmutter-bruce-moskowitz-marc-sherman-shadow-rulers-of-the-va
KELCY WARREN: $17M (pre-Trump: $578.6K)
His company operates the Dakota Access pipeline. After Trump helped the pipeline get approved, Warren’s wealth increased more than any other American’s. https://www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2017/03/22/dakota-access-pipeline-billionaire-net-worth-nearly-tripled-despite-standing-rock/?sh=24c8be91a1cb
His company operates the Dakota Access pipeline. After Trump helped the pipeline get approved, Warren’s wealth increased more than any other American’s. https://www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2017/03/22/dakota-access-pipeline-billionaire-net-worth-nearly-tripled-despite-standing-rock/?sh=24c8be91a1cb
PATRICIA DUGGAN: $5M (pre-Trump: $16,460)
BOB DUGGAN: $4.6M (pre-Trump: $18,650)
Biggest donors to the Church of Scientology. Divorced in 2017. Huge fortune from 2015 sale of a cancer drug company.
BOB DUGGAN: $4.6M (pre-Trump: $18,650)
Biggest donors to the Church of Scientology. Divorced in 2017. Huge fortune from 2015 sale of a cancer drug company.
LYNDA BLANCHARD: $3M (pre-Trump: $84K)
Became ambassador to Slovenia under Trump in 2019. Now running for Senate in Alabama, but lost Trump’s endorsement to this guy: https://www.propublica.org/article/mo-brooks-compared-bidens-election-to-the-start-of-the-civil-war-now-he-wants-a-senate-seat
Became ambassador to Slovenia under Trump in 2019. Now running for Senate in Alabama, but lost Trump’s endorsement to this guy: https://www.propublica.org/article/mo-brooks-compared-bidens-election-to-the-start-of-the-civil-war-now-he-wants-a-senate-seat
PALMER LUCKEY: $2.8M (pre-Trump: $0)
Oculus VR founder, pushed out of Facebook after it bought the company. Now sells border security tech to the government. (Sister is engaged to Matt Gaetz.) https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-did-facebook-fire-a-top-executive-hint-it-had-something-to-do-with-trump-1541965245
Oculus VR founder, pushed out of Facebook after it bought the company. Now sells border security tech to the government. (Sister is engaged to Matt Gaetz.) https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-did-facebook-fire-a-top-executive-hint-it-had-something-to-do-with-trump-1541965245
JULIA JENKINS FANCELLI: $2.2M (pre-Trump: $193K)
Heiress to Publix supermarket fortune. Funded Jan. 6 rally that led to Capitol riot. https://www.wsj.com/articles/jan-6-rally-funded-by-top-trump-donor-helped-by-alex-jones-organizers-say-11612012063/
Heiress to Publix supermarket fortune. Funded Jan. 6 rally that led to Capitol riot. https://www.wsj.com/articles/jan-6-rally-funded-by-top-trump-donor-helped-by-alex-jones-organizers-say-11612012063/
MARLYNE SEXTON: $2M (pre-Trump: $113K)
Wife of Midwest property mogul. “People are afraid to walk down the street, it’s a joke,” she said. Afraid of what? “You can answer that for yourself, and if you can’t then we probably don’t agree. I can’t help you understand that.”
Wife of Midwest property mogul. “People are afraid to walk down the street, it’s a joke,” she said. Afraid of what? “You can answer that for yourself, and if you can’t then we probably don’t agree. I can’t help you understand that.”
ROGER NORMAN: $2M (pre-Trump: $97,100)
Reclusive owner of Reno business park that, thanks to lobbying, benefited from “Opportunity Zone” provision of Trump tax cut: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/after-nevada-gop-push-treasury-quietly-changed-policy-benefiting-one-county/2018/06/22/d142acfc-74c5-11e8-b4b7-308400242c2e_story.html?noredirect=on
Reclusive owner of Reno business park that, thanks to lobbying, benefited from “Opportunity Zone” provision of Trump tax cut: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/after-nevada-gop-push-treasury-quietly-changed-policy-benefiting-one-county/2018/06/22/d142acfc-74c5-11e8-b4b7-308400242c2e_story.html?noredirect=on
BRIAN COLLERAN: $1.6M (pre-Trump: $87K)
Runs a nursing home chain that settled Medicare false-claims allegations in 2017 for $19.5M. Hosted Trump fundraiser in 2019: https://www.cleveland.com/politics/2019/07/donald-trump-coming-to-cleveland-friday-for-fundraiser-at-nursing-home-magnates-house.html
Runs a nursing home chain that settled Medicare false-claims allegations in 2017 for $19.5M. Hosted Trump fundraiser in 2019: https://www.cleveland.com/politics/2019/07/donald-trump-coming-to-cleveland-friday-for-fundraiser-at-nursing-home-magnates-house.html
MICHAEL & CARYN BORLAND: $1.6M (pre-Trump: $12,900)
Grocery workers who inherited a fortune. Pence fundraiser canceled after revelations they had posted QAnon conspiracy theories online: https://apnews.com/article/elections-bozeman-election-2020-montana-only-on-ap-35a881fb3e95ff8421efe57d05a5c374
Grocery workers who inherited a fortune. Pence fundraiser canceled after revelations they had posted QAnon conspiracy theories online: https://apnews.com/article/elections-bozeman-election-2020-montana-only-on-ap-35a881fb3e95ff8421efe57d05a5c374
DAVID & LEILA CENTNER: $1M (pre-Trump: $0)
VIPs for the Jan. 6 rally.
Told staff at their Miami private school they could not work there if they get vaccinated. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/02/us/miami-centner-academy-coronavirus-vaccine.html
VIPs for the Jan. 6 rally.
Told staff at their Miami private school they could not work there if they get vaccinated. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/02/us/miami-centner-academy-coronavirus-vaccine.html
Some other names you might recognize:
•Pandemic rally host DON AHERN: $1.1M (pre-Trump: $68K)
•Arizona Iced Tea co-founder JOHN FEROLITO: $1M ($71K)
•UnitedHealth founder RICHARD BURKE: $1M ($72K)
•Pandemic rally host DON AHERN: $1.1M (pre-Trump: $68K)
•Arizona Iced Tea co-founder JOHN FEROLITO: $1M ($71K)
•UnitedHealth founder RICHARD BURKE: $1M ($72K)
More in the story! https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-spawned-a-new-group-of-mega-donors-who-now-hold-sway-over-gops-future
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