In a show of support for the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, two titans of the American automotive industry, Ford and General Motors, have each pledged a donation of $1 million and a fleet of vehicles.
This generous contribution is part of a growing trend of major corporations rallying behind Trump's eagerly awaited second inauguration.
As reported by the Detroit News, the list of corporate benefactors includes not only Ford and General Motors but also Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Meta, OpenAI, Robinhood, Uber, and Bank of America. This is not the first time these Michigan-based auto giants have shown their support for Trump. OpenSecrets reveals that in 2017, Ford donated $250,000 to Trumps first inauguration, while General Motors contributed $500,000. Interestingly, both automakers donated the same amounts to President Joe Bidens 2021 inauguration.
The late Sheldon Adelson, billionaire businessman and former CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., was the top donor for Trumps 2017 inauguration, generously giving $5 million, according to OpenSecrets. In this election cycle, his widow, Miriam Adelson, made a staggering donation of $100 million to Trumps re-election campaign.
In the world of politics, as in other spheres of life, substantial financial contributions often come with expectations of reciprocity. Politico reported, "While inaugural donations from companies are not new, the flood of cash coupled with meetings with Trump at his Florida residence signal a shift among companies looking to curry favor with the president as he prepares to take office."
According to Politico, "Meta and Amazon each dished out $1 million donations to Trumps inaugural fund last week, followed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who said he would give the same amount from his personal wealth." This is a notable change for Altman, who has consistently donated to Democratic candidates since 2013.
The specific favors each donor expects from Trump in return for their contributions remain unclear. However, it is undeniable that these donations come with certain expectations, whether explicit or implicit.
Predictably, the news of Ford's inaugural donation for Trump sparked outrage among left-wing social media users, who conveniently overlooked the similarly substantial corporate donations to Biden's 2021 inauguration. Regardless of the specific vehicles Ford and GM provide for Trump's inauguration, one can only hope they will not fall victim to left-wing rioters, as was the case in 2017.
With many Americans eager to move on from Biden's tumultuous tenure, marked by rampant illegal immigration, escalating crime, and crippling inflation, the hope is that Trump and his administration will prioritize strengthening the U.S. economy and restoring American exceptionalism. A decisive rejection of harmful "wokeism," DEI destructiveness, and anti-American policies would indeed be a step in the right direction.
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal.
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