Apple and Nvidia each contributed $25 million to a fundraising effort for President Trump’s White House ballroom project, making them some of the largest donors in a campaign that has remained largely under the radar, according to recent reports.
Documents acquired by the Washington Post revealed that both tech companies provided the maximum individual donation amount of $25 million. Alongside them, the billionaire Adelson family, known for their hospitality ventures, and Charles Ergen, the co-founder and chairman of Dish Network, also committed $25 million each to the initiative.
The fundraising effort has accumulated a total of $333 million from private donors, with at least $77 million coming from those who chose to remain anonymous. This situation has raised eyebrows given that many of these wealthy contributors have interests tied to the federal government, which might create potential conflicts of interest, the report noted.
In response to ethical concerns, White House spokesman Davis Ingle stated that the White House does not divulge personal details about donations to nonprofit entities. He argued that the same critics calling out apparent conflicts would likely complain if taxpayers had to fund such extensive renovations.
“The donors involved represent a diverse group of great American companies and generous individuals, all dedicated to improving the People’s House for future generations,” Ingle remarked.
Apple has not yet commented, while a spokesperson for Nvidia defended the donation, emphasizing their support for the United States is independent of any business interests, and described their contribution as a way to support a nonpartisan initiative that benefits all Americans.
Additionally, the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Foundation, established by the former CEO of Marvel Entertainment and his spouse, donated $20.27 million to the project. Comcast, already known for its donations, contributed $7.5 million, while Microsoft, Palantir, and Lockheed Martin each gave $10 million. Amazon, T-Mobile, and Meta also chipped in $5 million each.
Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, had previously agreed to pay $22 million to settle a lawsuit concerning an alleged censorship issue involving Trump, and those funds have been allocated to the ballroom project.
In January 2025, Apple Chairman Tim Cook, who was then the CEO, announced a personal contribution of $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund and had previously presented him with a custom plaque featuring a 24-karat gold base during a press conference discussing Apple’s commitment to U.S. jobs and manufacturing. A few months later, Nvidia became a significant donor to the ballroom project, around the same time the company struck a deal with the White House related to selling AI chips to China, despite national security implications.
Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, remarked at the time that their company was contributing “in a small way” and requested that their $25 million donation remain anonymous.
Interestingly, Trump himself does not appear as a contributor on the list, though he has claimed he would help fund the project.
Ingle also criticized the Washington Post for its reporting on leaked documents, indicating that they intend to pursue those responsible for the breach while ensuring the protection of donor privacy. He deemed the newspaper’s actions as shameful and claimed it jeopardized the reputation of a nonpolitical organization by sharing leaked information from disloyal employees.
In August, the Supreme Court allowed construction on the ballroom project to continue while Trump contests a court order intended to halt the work. He has characterized the planned ballroom—designed to accommodate 1,000 guests and spanning nearly 90,000 square feet—as vital for national security, highlighting features like bomb shelters, medical facilities, sniper posts, and a drone port.
