President Trump’s team has promised transparency about the funding of a new ballroom, but the White House withheld the identities of several donors, including those with business before the administration. The project, valued at over $30 million, is funded by corporate interests such as health care companies and major tech firms.
Many donors have made significant contributions to the ballroom fund, which gives them a say in how their donations are used. However, some critics argue that this lack of transparency creates an unfair advantage for donors who can contribute anonymously.
Donors like Jeff Yass, the billionaire financier behind TikTok’s parent company, could benefit from a Trump-backed deal to keep the social media app up and running in the US.
The fund-raising is being overseen by Meredith O’Rourke, Mr. Trump’s lead campaign finance operative. The White House official said that donors who wish to be named publicly will have their identities disclosed, but those who prefer anonymity will also be honored.
Ethics experts have raised concerns about the donations, citing the possibility of special treatment for donors or violating a ban on federal agencies accepting gifts from private sources.
Despite these concerns, Mr. Trump has cast the effort to build the ballroom as an apolitical act. The pledge form refers to the project as “the President Donald J. Trump Ballroom,” but Mr. Trump says he will not name it after himself.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/us/politics/trumps-team-offers-to-keep-some-ballroom-donors-incognito.html