Ford Motor Co., the US-based automaker, has pledged to donate $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, alongside a fleet of vehicles for the festivities. The company’s CEO, Jim Farley, confirmed the donation in a press event at Michigan Central Station in Detroit.
The contribution comes as no surprise, given the strong ties between Ford and Trump, with former President Barack Obama having visited the company’s headquarters during his presidency. In fact, Ford’s executive chair Bill Ford Jr. has met with Trump on multiple occasions.
Farley expressed optimism about working with the new administration to promote electric vehicles and support the US economy. The company’s hybrid and electric vehicle sales have seen a significant increase, with nearly 14% of its November sales in the US being hybrid or electric vehicles.
The inauguration donation follows other major contributions from tech giants such as Amazon, Meta (the owner of Facebook and Instagram), and billionaire Jeff Bezos. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also donated $1 million to the cause, seeking to repair his relationship with Trump and other Republican leaders after receiving backlash for banning the former president on Meta’s platforms.
While the exact amount raised by Trump remains unclear, it is expected to be substantial, given the high-profile donors involved. The inauguration fund is expected to reach a record-breaking amount, following President Joe Biden’s successful 2021 fundraising efforts.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/12/23/donald-trump-inauguration-ford/77178326007