ALBAWABA – President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony will take place on January 20. The total cost of the event is estimated to be around $200 million. In this article, we will detail the funding and explain who paid for it.
Trump’s inauguration ceremony is the costliest
Donald Trump, the newly elected President of the United States, will be inaugurated today in a ceremony costing $200 million, according to sources.
Trump’s inauguration ceremony is the costliest in US presidential history. Notably, US presidential inaugurations are typically funded by a combination of public and private donations, with taxpayers covering security and maintenance costs.
In 1993, Bill Clinton’s inauguration ceremony was estimated at $19.5 million, according to the Associated Press, while his second inauguration cost $33 million.
US presidential inaugurations are typically funded by a combination of public and private donations, with taxpayers covering security and maintenance costs. (Shutterstock)
George W. Bush’s first inauguration in 2001 was estimated at roughly $40 million, while his second ceremony cost about $42.3 million.
Barack Obama’s first inauguration was estimated at around $53 million, and his second at $43 million. Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 had a total cost of nearly $106 million.
Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony was estimated at $62 million in 2021, and Trump’s current second inauguration is estimated at nearly $200 million.
Who paid for Trump’s inauguration ceremony
According to sources, US citizens funded the inauguration ceremony through their tax dollars, in addition to private and public donations made in the previous months leading up to the event.
Major technology companies participated in the donations, including Amazon and Meta, each contributing around $1 million, while OpenAI also donated nearly $1 million.
Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Adobe joined in, donating approximately $1 million each. Automotive companies such as Ford, General Motors, and Toyota also contributed about $1 million each. Additionally, Boeing, Chevron, and Uber made similar donations.
Robinhood contributed roughly $2 million, while Pfizer donated around $1 million.
Bruce Freed, president and co-founder of the Center for Political Accountability, a non-governmental organization that advocates for transparency in corporate political spending, stated: "The donations to the inaugural fund are basically to gain favor and to gain access."
It is worth noting that companies voluntarily made these donations to build strong relationships and establish bonds with Donald Trump and his new administration.
