Anonymous Billionaire’s Donation to U.S. Military During Shutdown

A wealthy benefactor, who previously contributed $50 million to Donald Trump’s campaign, has also donated $130 million to support the U.S. military amid the government shutdown.

This substantial donation came from Timothy Mellon, the grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon, as reported by sources familiar with the situation. President Trump disclosed the donation but referred to the benefactor simply as a “patriot” without revealing their identity.

During a flight to Malaysia, Trump remarked, “He doesn’t want publicity.” It seems unusual to him, given his background, that someone would prefer to remain anonymous in the political realm.

Mellon, who has roots in Wyoming’s railroad industry and comes from a banking lineage, has directed significant financial support toward Trump and the Republican Party over recent years. Until Trump’s election, his contributions to Republican candidates were relatively modest.

Additionally, Mellon has shown support for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., injecting millions into Kennedy’s presidential campaign and his organization focused on vaccine opposition, Children’s Health Defense.

The Pentagon accepted Mellon’s donation, according to spokesman Sean Parnell, under its policy to receive general gifts. He noted that the funds were designated to assist with pay and benefits for service members.

Nevertheless, there are ongoing legal concerns regarding whether this funding can be utilized for such purposes, as the Anti-Deficiency Act restricts federal entities from spending beyond what Congress has allocated.

This generous donation potentially translates to about $100 for each of the 1.3 million active-duty military personnel. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Trump administration has sought around $600 billion in military funding for the fiscal year 2025.