Trump Discloses 46 Donors Who Funded Second Transition

President Donald Trump released the names of 46 donors who contributed slightly more than $14 million to fund his second transition to power. The disclosure follows a year of delays after the transition team declined a General Services Administration agreement that would have capped individual donations at $5,000 and barred foreign contributions in exchange for federal funding.

The list includes billionaires Jeff Yass, Paul Singer, Suzanne Johnson, and Marlene Ricketts. Several contributors were subsequently appointed to high-level administration roles, including Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and Middle East and Russia special envoy Steve Witkoff. While the administration released the names, it did not provide specific donation amounts, addresses, or professions for the individuals.

Chief of Staff Susie Wiles previously stated that forgoing the GSA agreement was intended to save taxpayer money. However, the Partnership for Public Service and its president, Max Stier, criticized the delay in transparency, suggesting the transition was hiding who was buying the government. Spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez denied that the president is influenced by donors, asserting that he acts in the best interest of the country.