The nightly phone calls that helped Trump raise $800 million

PoliticsBusiness & Finance
31 Jul 2026 • 7:07 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

The nightly phone calls that helped Trump raise $800 million

  • Donald Trump has personally helped pull in a staggering $800 million for projects tied to his second term, according to a new report.
  • The president is said to take a hands-on approach, regularly calling top fundraiser Meredith O'Rourke and asking corporate executives for donations of up to $50 million.
  • The fundraising haul has bankrolled high-profile projects including Trump's presidential library, a new White House ballroom and Trump-aligned political action committees.
  • Tech giants have opened their wallets, with SoftBank reportedly giving $50 million for the library and Apple contributing $25 million toward the ballroom, while other major companies have donated to pro-Trump PACs.
  • Critics have branded the effort a "Trump Transaction Tax" and a "corporate shakedown," saying it clashes with Trump's past criticism of political action committees.

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