Political

Record-Breaking Inauguration: Why Money Has Become the Key to Trump’s Era of Global Influence

The attention of the world community today is focused on the inauguration of Donald Trump, which promises to be a historic and extremely significant event, because he will become a key figure capable of changing the global political landscape. The new US president, known for his unpredictability and ability to break stereotypes, takes office with an unprecedented financial scale that has no analogues. This is not just a ceremony, but a demonstration of a new format of relations between business and government that can determine the future of the United States and the world.

Inauguration – 2025: a new record in the history of American ceremonies

The inauguration of 2025 has become both a political and a financial phenomenon – famous corporations and influential donors have invested a record 200 million dollars in it. Throughout the history of the United States, private investment has always played an important role in financing various social, political, and humanitarian initiatives. Analyzing the dynamics of the amounts of these private investments, it is possible to identify several important trends that reflect changes in the economic, political and social context of the USA.

During the presidencies of Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter, there has been stability in the levels of private investment in inaugurations at $4 billion. This can be explained by the relative economic stagnation, the impact of the oil crisis of the 1970s, as well as the absence of significant events that could stimulate significant amounts of investment.

Starting with Ronald Reagan’s two terms in office, one can see a significant increase in the amount of financial investment for the inauguration – $19 billion in 1981 and $20 billion in 1985. Reaganomics policies that fostered the private sector, along with an emphasis on philanthropic support, catalyzed this upswing. At the same time, George W. Bush continued this trend, reaching a then-record amount of $30 billion in 1989.

During the presidency of Bill Clinton, investments in the ceremony increased to $33 billion in 1993, and subsequently decreased slightly to $30 billion in 1997. This dynamic was associated with the economic stability of the United States in the 1990s, when high employment rates and income growth encouraged philanthropic activity.

With the coming to power of George W. Bush in 2001, the level of private investment increased significantly — to $40 billion in 2001 and $42 billion in 2005. This period includes the response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and a significant amount of philanthropic initiatives to support the victims, as well as the economic development of the state.

Under Barack Obama, the amount of investments in the inauguration reached $30 billion 53 billion in 2009, which became a new record, but in 2013 its level decreased to $43 billion. However, in the era of Donald Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, the amount of investment increased significantly to 107 billion, while the inauguration of Joe Biden in 2021 was much more modest – 62 million dollars. This is explained by the fact that he took office during a crisis period – the COVID-19 pandemic, political polarization and economic instability.

As you can see, Trump’s inauguration in 2025 set an all-time record, raising almost twice as much as during his first term as president, and surpassing the spending of all previous presidents, becoming an unprecedented financial phenomenon in US history. At the same time, the dynamics of private investments clearly reflects economic and socio-political changes in the country. From stability in the 1970s to massive growth in the 2000s and an explosive record in the 2020s, private philanthropy is proving to be an indicator not only of economic health, but also of social activity. The influence of presidential politics is also evident, as emphasis on the economy and support for business often become the impetus for increased private philanthropy.

Who and how much invested in the inauguration – 2025

The inauguration of the President of the United States is not only a solemn ceremony, but also a large-scale financial project, which is paid for by private donors, taxpayers and large corporations. The costs are shared between the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the Presidential Inaugural Committee, the federal government, and state and local governments.

This year, huge contributions to the inauguration of technology giants attracted special attention. Google, which donated $1 million, has become the subject of media debate as Trump hinted at possible antitrust investigations against it at the end of 2024. Google explained that their contribution includes live streaming of the ceremony on YouTube and financial support for the inaugural committee.

A similar approach was demonstrated by OpenAI, known for its developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), which also allocated 1 million dollars. Its CEO Sam Altman, a staunch critic of Trump, said: “He is the president of the United States. I will support any president.” The contribution of OpenAI became a signal of support for the national course on the development of AI. At the same time, five of the largest technology companies in the world — Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and Apple — also donated a million dollars each. Microsoft doubled its contribution this time compared to previous years, indicating its desire to remain in favor with the new administration.

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In turn, the TikTok company joined the financing of Trump’s inauguration, allocating $50,000 for the holiday party. This event was organized to express gratitude to the influencers who supported his election campaign. Despite the fact that the TikTok app is temporarily unavailable in the US due to a law passed almost a year ago, the company is working on resuming its operations in the country. On January 18, TikTok was blocked in the US due to demands to distance itself from its Chinese owner. However, Trump promised after taking office to delay the ban on TikTok and suggested that the United States could take 50% ownership of the company.

Elon Musk, one of the closest people to Trump and the richest person in the world, who heads companies that manufacture rockets SpaceX, Tesla electric cars and Neuralink, which develops brain chips, invested $ 43.6 million in his support in the election. Although the exact amount of Musk’s contribution to Trump’s inauguration has not been disclosed, it is likely to be in the millions of dollars.

Influential American banks also joined in financing Trump’s inauguration, although the exact amounts of their investments remain unknown. Goldman Sachs and Bank of America confirmed their participation, while Citigroup said it intended to contribute and JPMorgan doubled its contribution from 2017 with $1 million.

In addition, the automobile sector actively supported the inauguration. Toyota, Ford and General Motors made generous contributions of a million dollars each. Ford also provided the event fleet, which became an important part of the ceremony. Boeing, Chevron, Coca-Cola and Verizon are also among the companies that made the largest contributions to Trump’s inauguration, underscoring the wide range of corporate support for the event.

It was not without innovative startups. The software company Perplexity has not only provided the funds, but also provided the new administration with premium access to its technology. This has become part of a general trend where startups try to consolidate their positions through closer ties with the government.

One of the most unexpected groups of donors was the crypto industry. This year’s inauguration was marked by the first-ever Crypto Ball, a massive event organized by David Sachs, a former PayPal executive and now one of Trump’s key advisers. This ball became not only a meeting place for representatives of the crypto sector, but also demonstrated their readiness to actively participate in shaping the future of US politics.

Explosive interest and star guests

The inauguration of Donald Trump in 2025 was not only a record-breakingly expensive event, but also an event that attracted the attention of leading politicians, businessmen and world leaders. Interest in the event is so great that even tickets for sponsors and VIP guests were sold out instantly. The cost of participation in a ball or ceremony started from $400 and reached several thousand dollars, but even for this money they could not admit everyone who wanted to because of excessive demand.

Despite the traditional openness of inaugural events, this time many major sponsors were put on waiting lists or even denied access to exclusive events. It is the first time in US history that high-ranking guests have faced such restrictions at an event that has always symbolized openness and equality.

The current US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were invited to the ceremony. Their participation, despite strained relations with Trump, became a symbol of political politeness. Interestingly, Trump himself did not attend Biden’s 2020 inauguration, saying the election was “stolen.” Former US presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton are also among the guests, along with their wives: Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton. However, Michelle Obama refused to participate, citing personal reasons. Her office has not released details, but many are aware of her dislike of Trump. The ceremony will also be attended by members of Congress, Supreme Court justices and high-ranking representatives of the armed forces.

In addition, the inauguration gathered representatives of many countries of the world. Among them is the President of Argentina, Javier Millay, who was the first to congratulate Trump on his victory. Salvadoran President Naib Bukele and Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Maloney also received invitations, and Maloney said she would attend the ceremony if she could. Chinese President Xi Jinping, despite the invitation, sent his official representative. In turn, the former president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, is trying to resolve bureaucratic issues in order to make it to the ceremony.

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The inauguration of 2025 was a real star event among the richest people on the planet. Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, as well as Mark Zuckerberg, who organized the event together with such famous billionaires as Miriam Adelson, Tilman Fertitta and Todd Ricketts, were invited to it. In addition, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, CEOs of Apple (Tim Cook), OpenAI (Sam Altman), TikTok (Shou Ji Choo) and Google (Sundar Pichai), as well as various famous actors and musicians will be in attendance.

Therefore, this inauguration will be unique not only because of record expenses, but also because it brought together influential people from different fields. Despite their political differences and past conflicts, the event should demonstrate that American politics remains an arena where unexpected alliances and compromises are possible.

Why business is betting on Trump

The situation with the inauguration of Donald Trump in 2025 has become indicative for American business. If in 2017 large corporations distanced themselves from it due to fear of reputational risks, now the tone has changed dramatically. In 2025, businessmen, corporations, and even the crypto market will no longer just observe politics, but actively invest in it. Pragmatism has replaced former caution, and this is clearly demonstrated by the amount of donations for the inauguration.

Many businessmen understood that Trump is not only a political figure, but a key player in the global economic arena. His policies are pro-business, tax cuts and deregulation, giving corporations room to grow. In addition, his tough stance on international relations, including trade wars and antitrust investigations, creates unique opportunities for American business. Support for the inauguration is both a sign of loyalty and an investment in stability and the ability to influence the formation of economic policy.

It is significant that the crypto market, as well as large corporations, did not remain aloof from this historic event. For representatives of the crypto industry, Trump’s support is a chance to strengthen their position in an environment of unstable regulation. During his campaign, he repeatedly spoke about the importance of innovation, including cryptocurrencies and blockchain, to the future of the US economy. The hosting of the first-ever Crypto Ball, a special inauguration event hosted by key industry figures, was a strong signal of the new administration’s support for the industry. At the same time, David Sachs, the former head of PayPal and current adviser to Trump on cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence, played a key role in involving the crypto community in this process.

For corporations and the crypto industry, it is important not only to show their loyalty, but also to consolidate their positions in new conditions. Businessmen and representatives of the crypto market understand that Trump, as president, will have a significant impact on the US economy and international markets. Inaugural contributions have become a way to demonstrate willingness to cooperate, ensure access to the political agenda, and avoid risks of marginalization.

It should not be forgotten that Donald Trump himself is a long-time supporter of cryptocurrencies, having his own investments in the field. On the eve of his inauguration, he made an unexpected move by announcing the launch of his own cryptocurrency, the $Trump memecoin, which caused an unprecedented stir among investors. Already on the first day, memcoin reached a peak price of $23.03, and during the day it rose to more than $45. The launch of his own cryptocurrency underscores Trump’s desire not only to strengthen his political influence, but also a serious intention to introduce digital currency into the national economy.

Thus, the record investment of $200 million in Trump’s inauguration reflects a transformation in the perception of political investment. Instead of distancing themselves, corporations now seek to get as close as possible to power. The crypto industry, in turn, is using this moment to influence regulation and strengthen its position.

The inauguration of Trump in 2025 became not only a ceremony, but also an important symbol of the new format of relations between business, the crypto market and politics. The record contributions show that business and the crypto community are ready to invest in politics as a way to achieve their own goals. For corporations and the crypto market, they are a tool for shaping their future in a new political environment, and this transformation will undoubtedly leave its mark in the political history of both the United States and the world. At the same time, at Trump’s inauguration and after it, a real spectacle will be provided by those who only yesterday sharply criticized him and mockingly commented on his every step, and today are standing in line to humbly light up next to him, get “into his orbit” and demonstrate their “boundless respect” .

Oksana Ishchenko

 

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