Trump Kids Selling Inauguration Packages And Access to Trump for a Million Dollars

Trump Kids Selling Inauguration Packages And Access to Trump for a Million Dollars

A non-profit conveniently named Opening Day Foundation registered in Texas with the two Trump sons as the Directors is selling a sort of inauguration package deal for a million dollars.  The money they say will go to charities involved in “conservation” but no specifics have yet been shared.  This has come out of an investigation by Center for Public Integrity.

Texas Registered Nonprofit

So what do you receive in this million dollar package?

  • a “private reception and photo opportunity for 16 guests with President Donald J. Trump,”
  • a “multi-day hunting and/or fishing excursion for 4 guests with Donald Trump, Jr. and/or Eric Trump, and team,” as well as tickets to other events and
  • “autographed guitars by an Opening Day 2017 performer.”

You can check the details of the packages in the brochure here and see what the different amounts of “donation” (for dummies) / Investment (for lay people) gets you:

Packages for Trump's Inauguration
Packages for Trump’s Inauguration

The rub is that you and I will never know who came for the “party” and who bought this package because by law nonprofits are not required to share the names or details of their “donors”.

A Center for Public Integrity review of Texas incorporation records found the Opening Day Foundation was created less than a week ago, on Dec. 14. Unlike political committees, such nonprofits aren’t required by law to reveal their donors, allowing sponsors to write seven-figure checks for access to the president while staying anonymous, if they choose.

This nonprofit was set on Dec 14, less than a week back.

Now even if you genuinely believe that there are great and altruistic charities for which Trump and his kids will indeed contribute the proceeds to, this whole exercise is still nauseating at many levels.

“This is problematic on so many levels,” said Larry Noble, the general counsel of the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan campaign reform organization. “This is Donald Trump and the Trump family using a brand new organization to raise $1 million contributions for a vague goal of giving money to conservation charities, which seems a way of basically just selling influence and selling the ability to meet with the president.”

At the most basic level it is Selling Access to the US President For a Fee!  That in itself is unheard of in any democracy.  This is just the beginning of the Presidency for Trump and it is already being compromised by the family to build wealth for themselves.  What will and can happen further is anyone’s guess.

I can’t help but remember the Obama’s roast of Trump at the White House Correspondents dinner 5 years ago.  He showed a picture of how the White House may look like if Trump ever came in.  He may have been correct!  Check it out for yourself.

Featured Image: GQ

Great! You’ve successfully signed up.

Welcome back! You've successfully signed in.

You've successfully subscribed to Drishtikone - Online Magazine on Geopolitics and Culture from Indian Perspective.

Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.

Success! Your billing info has been updated.

Your billing was not updated.