Democrats are "deeply concerned" that some donations made to Donald Trump's White House ballroom project could be perceived as "quid pro quo" payments.
Senator Elizabeth Warren and a collection of other Dem representatives are in talks with leaders from Microsoft, Meta, and Nvidia, among others, to receive further details on their donations to the ballroom plan. The president confirmed the money used in renovating the east wing of the White House would be paid for through donations made by several companies including Apple and Amazon.
The White House renovation project was confirmed on July 31 in an official statement from Trump's press team. Their statement reads, "President Trump, and other patriot donors, have generously committed to donating the funds necessary to build this approximately $200 million dollar structure. The United States Secret Service will provide the necessary security enhancements and modifications."
Senator Warren has since questioned whether these donations will be used as "quid pro quo" payments to influence the government. She told The Wall Street Journal, "I’m deeply concerned that we may be looking at a quid pro quo right out in public."
"These companies all have important business in front of the federal government—the kind of company-altering business like whether a giant merger gets approved or whether an antitrust prosecution goes forward."
Trump has made it clear he views the renovation as crucial to his presidential legacy, and that the ballroom would be of a whole new "magnitude" for his presidency. He said, "Chief executives throughout history have contributed to making the White House special, and nothing of this magnitude has been done."
But donations made to the president's plan to create a ballroom fit to host world leaders has been spiked by some as a chance for businesses to influence decisions which may benefit them in future. A letter seen by the WSJ has reportedly asked companies why they decided to donate to the ballroom, and whether any conversations about donations included specific government actions against the company.
It comes as an analyst suggested Hollywood elites are "palm-greasing" with Trump by conceding to his Rush Hour movie demands in the hopes of pushing a studio merger through.
The Bulwark's Catherine Rampell wrote, "It’s a merger that would normally face ginormous antitrust obstacles, given that the companies collectively control a third of the North American box office. But the administration has shown an inclination to dispense with regulatory hurdles when it comes to its friends."
"And ponying up the cash for a potential box-office dud will, if nothing else, further ingratiate Paramount to Trump."