In the event you’ve been questioning how precisely the entire “companies bribe the president by contributing to his gaudy monstrosity of a ballroom” factor works, be a part of the membership.
Now, now. These aren’t bribes; they’re donations!
Simply ask Meredith O’Rourke, one among President Donald Trump’s prime fundraisers who is seemingly accountable for this factor. She doesn’t work for the federal government. In actual fact, she actually works for Trump’s marketing campaign—nonetheless.
O’Rourke isn’t simply good at getting bribes, er, donations. She specializes within the type of sophisticated, shady fundraising that this ballroom requires.
The East Wing is demolished to make room for President Donald Trump’s atrocious ballroom.
Bear in mind how throughout his 2024 presidential marketing campaign, Trump oddly arrange a GoFundMe for Hurricane Helene aid? Donors gave cash to the GoFundMe, and GoFundMe then circled and paid out that donor cash—however solely after taking a small chunk per transaction.
Bizarre that these deep-pocketed donors did not simply donate to current charities, proper? Effectively, in the event that they did that, Trump wouldn’t know precisely how a lot these donors gave in an effort to impress him. And that’s the O’Rourke distinction!
Again in October 2024, protection of this decidedly odd association was all about how O’Rourke helmed the trouble and the way beneficiant these deep-pocketed right-wingers have been—like Invoice Ackman, the Heritage Basis, and Dana White—to the tune of $7.7 million. That’s some huge cash! Individuals in North Carolina will need to have been so grateful!
About that …
All of it went to spiritual charities with ties to Trump, and actually solely $25,000 of the $7.7 million may very well be related to a selected charity and donation. Mtn2Sea Ministries acknowledged that it used its $25,000 to purchase reward playing cards for rural communities in Clinch County, Georgia. One other group admitted that it obtained $5.2 million however didn’t clarify what it did with that cash.
However, hey, what actually issues is that Trump discovered how a lot his wealthy donors are keen to spend to get his consideration.
O’Rourke was additionally behind the “dedicated VIP experience” provided to donors keen to offer large cash to Trump’s pathetic birthday parade.
President Donald Trump throughout his navy birthday parade on June 14.
However perhaps you’re exceedingly wealthy and corrupt however really feel like a navy parade is a bit too flashy. In the event you’re extra of a low-key kind, O’Rourke put collectively a candlelight dinner at Mar-a-Lago earlier this 12 months, the place $1 million obtained you a seat on the dinner however $5 million obtained you a one-on-one assembly with Trump.
It’s not clear how requiring seven figures to get within the room with Trump isn’t a donation, as a result of if it’s not a donation … it’s a bribe.
Now, how about that ballroom!
Positive, Trump stated he was going to pay for the ballroom, however now that’s been dialed again to, “President Trump is generously donating his time and resources to build a beautiful White House ballroom, a project which past presidents only dreamed about.”
Because of O’Rourke’s artistic fundraising, the place she—a personal citizen—has partnered with the Belief for the Nationwide Mall—a personal charity—which helps the Nationwide Park Service—a authorities company—all of these scrumptious donor {dollars} may be laundered via the Belief, leading to a candy tax write-off.
Regardless of the Belief in some way being the conduit for a whole lot of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in ballroom donations, there’s nary a point out of the ballroom,Trump, or O’Rourke wherever on its web site.
Nonetheless, corporations are falling over themselves to make donations to “The Donald J. Trump Ballroom at the White House,” and it’s all due to O’Rourke.
Everyone wins—besides the American individuals.
