Senator asks tech giants for records on Trump ballroom donations
Democrats are targeting companies that contributed to President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project.
Senator Richard Blumenthal has requested that Apple, Google, Meta, Nvidia, Amazon and Microsoft provide records regarding their donations to President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom. According to the Times of India, the request is currently voluntary, but the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations may issue subpoenas once Democrats take the majority in January.
The donations were part of a $333 million private fundraising project. Apple and Nvidia each committed $25 million, while Google directed $22 million to the project following a settlement regarding a YouTube suspension. Microsoft, Lockheed Martin and Palantir each contributed $10 million.
Blumenthal first wrote to the donors in October 2025, asking for details on donation amounts, administration contacts and lobbying activities. He noted that many donors have deep financial, business, or other personal interests before the administration.
The senator also requested documents from FCC Chair Brendan Carr regarding agency probes into media companies and the approval of the Paramount Skydance merger. Carr has until November 30 to begin producing records.
In the House, Representative Robert Garcia, who is set to chair the Oversight Committee, has also named the ballroom donors as an area of scrutiny. The companies have until early January to decide whether to provide the records voluntarily or face subpoenas.