In the race for the presidency, a group of wealthy donors have emerged as key supporters of Republican candidate Donald Trump. These super-rich benefactors have contributed over $50 million to his campaign against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden. As small donations decrease and some traditional Republican donors back away, these big donors are playing a crucial role in funding Trump’s campaign.
According to a Reuters analysis of Federal Election Commission data, the top five major donors to Trump include the 81-year-old heir to the Mellon banking family, who has donated at least $16.5 million to the pro-Trump Super PAC MAGA Inc. since 2022. Another major donor is former Marvel Entertainment chairman Isaac “Ike” Perlmutter and his wife Laura, who have contributed over $10 million to a new Trump Super PAC called Right for America.
Linda McMahon, former head of the Small Business Administration in the Trump administration, has donated more than $10 million to MAGA Inc., while hotel magnate from Nevada, Bigelow, has also contributed over $9 million to Trump’s campaign. The major donor of Scientology Church, Patricia Duggan, has donated over $5 million this election cycle.
These wealthy donors play a significant role in financing Trump’s campaign by providing crucial financial support in a landscape where traditional donors may be less inclined to contribute. Their contributions underscore the importance of big donors in American politics and their role in shaping election outcomes.
As such, it is worth noting that these big-money contributors are not just making large contributions but also wielding significant influence over political discourse and decision-making processes. This raises questions about whether this kind of political spending is ethical and whether it is distorting democratic processes.