What’s happened: 

Since Election Day, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s allies have raised well over $200 million for a constellation of groups that will fund his inauguration, political operation, and, eventually, presidential library.

Why it matters: 

This is the most money ever raised for an inauguration, raising serious questions about money in politics. These donations—which aren’t covered by campaign finance law and can be unlimited—signal a desire to curry favor with the administration.  

The tech sector is seeking policies favorable to artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. Artificial Intelligence, or AI, poses a direct threat to our democracy, leaving us vulnerable to deepfakes and disinformation. 

Who has donated: 

Corporations and CEOs in tech, AI, and cryptocurrency have donated millions, including:

• Amazon: $1 million
• Meta: $1 million
• Google: $1 million
• Microsoft: $1 million
• Uber: $1 million
• Toyota: $1 million
• Ripple [Cryptocurrency]: $5 million
• Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi: $1 million 
• Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg: $1 million
• Apple CEO Tim Cook: $1 million
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: $1 million

This isn’t normal: 

The massive amount of money raised thus far by Trump’s presidential inaugural committee is more than double the amount President Joe Biden raised four years ago when he raised​​ nearly $62 million for his inauguration. Donations to Trump’s first inauguration in 2016 also set a record when he brought in nearly $107 million.

These donations also come as Meta announced that it will end its third-party fact-checking program, including its efforts to combat widespread political disinformation. That move followed Mark Zuckerberg’s meeting with Trump, his one million dollar donation to his inauguration committee, and a conservative overhaul of the company’s government relations department.

What’s next:

Americans know that money has too much influence in our political system. That is why Common Cause advocates for policies that level the playing field so that our elected officials are held accountable for our needs, not just the demands of wealthy special interests. 

We’re also committed to defending our elections against the threats posed by artificial intelligence, disinformation, deepfakes, and other emerging technologies. 

Common Cause demands reforms that put ordinary people ahead of billionaire campaign donors.

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