Trump Is Running His Transition Team on Secret Money

The New York Times ^ | Nov. 24, 2024, 5:03 a.m. ET | Ken Bensinger and David A. Fahrenthold

[E. Pluribus Unum]

President-elect Donald J. Trump is keeping secret the names of the donors who are funding his transition effort, a break from tradition that could make it impossible to see what interest groups, businesses or wealthy people are helping launch his second term.

Mr. Trump has so far declined to sign an agreement with the Biden administration that imposes strict limits on that fund-raising in exchange for up to $7.2 million in federal funds earmarked for the transition. By dodging the agreement, Mr. Trump can raise unlimited amounts of money from unknown donors to pay for the staff, travel and office space involved in preparing to take over the government.

Mr. Trump is the first president-elect to sidestep the restrictions, provoking alarm among ethics experts.

Those seeking to curry favor with the incoming administration now have the opportunity to donate directly to the winning candidate without their names or potential conflicts ever entering the public sphere. And unlike with campaign contributions, foreign nationals are allowed to donate to the transition.

“When the money isn’t disclosed, it’s not clear how much everybody is giving, who is giving it and what they are getting in return for their donations,” said Heath Brown, a professor of public policy at John Jay College of Criminal Justice who studies presidential transitions. “It’s an area where the vast majority of Americans would agree that they want to know who is paying that bill.”

Mr. Trump’s transition team, led by Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, both of whom were nominated to cabinet positions last week, has repeatedly said it intends to sign the agreements with the Biden administration, known as memorandums of understanding.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Mr. Trump has so far declined to sign an agreement with the Biden administration that imposes strict limits on that fund-raising in exchange for up to $7.2 million in federal funds earmarked for the transition. By dodging the agreement, Mr. Trump can raise unlimited amounts of money from unknown donors to pay for the staff, travel and office space involved in preparing to take over the government.

He didn't sign the agreement to let the Deep State dictate his transitioin in exchange for money, therefore he does not have to adhere to it.

It's not rocket surgery.

[Jim Noble]

“Trump is running his transition on secret money”

Good.

[jerod]

The Times... All of sudden, they’re concerned about money and where it comes from. They’re never concerned about Democrat donations and where they come from, but with Trump... They demand to know this info? Hypocrites.

[wildcard_redneck]

I don’t think that the communist Democrat Party kooks understand that, thanks to Biden’s inflation, $7.5 million is the new $3.5 million. It doesn’t go very far and Trump does not need it or want it.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

New York Times unhappy, aw.....

[qaz123]

But ActBlue, the 65 Project, Hoffman funding the changing of NY law and the lawyer to have some hag go after Pres Trump for a fabricated incident, etc etc, all of that is legit

[Sir Bangaz Cracka]

What they’re really concerned about is that the swamp (DOJ/MSM/FIB.CIA) is being kept in the dark.

[FlingWingFlyer]

These two Slimes pixies have been digging around in the dumpsters again. I’ll bet the smell like crap. Crazyass libs are always throwing their failed ideas away.

[Mariner]

“It’s an area where the vast majority of Americans would agree that they want to know who is paying that bill.”

I believe that’s, at least, an unsupported assertion.

And probably a lie.

Most American’s don’t givva eff.

[Zathras]

As long as its not costing me $$$, who cares

[DesertRhino]

That is because last time the GSA was spying on him and trying to cut him off at the knees at every chance.

[Wuli]

He did it to keep everyone in the Obama-Biden cabal - including long time deep state actors who might insist they are “non-partisan” while actually being long time Democrat-biased embeds - OUT of meddling in his transition efforts. The “funding limitations” are only a part of the controls and operations insisted on by accepting the federal funds.

[FlingWingFlyer]

At least he isn’t using it to have concerts to draw potential voter and other flunkies. What did Harriz do with that Billion bucks?

[PeterPrinciple]

Mr. Trump has so far declined to sign an agreement with the Biden administration that imposes strict limits on that fund-raising in exchange for up to $7.2 million in federal funds earmarked for the transition. By dodging the agreement, Mr. Trump can raise unlimited amounts of money from unknown donors to pay for the staff, travel and office space involved in preparing to take over the government.
He didn’t sign the agreement to let the Deep State dictate his transitioin in exchange for money, therefore he does not have to adhere to it.

It’s not rocket surgery.

---

The democrats signed, took the free govt money and then did exactly what Trump is doing.

[dp0622]

how much did obummer send to Iran in the middle of the night?

talk about secret money.

[jimbug]

The old gray lady is long overdue for a mini-mental exam.

[Aria]

Actually I want to know how tons of people living on social security made repeated donations to democrats. And I’d like to know why Obama turned off the credit card address verification during his campaign. And I’d like to know how a bunch of monks who took a vow of poverty gave a lot of money to Clinton/Gore.

And I’d REALLY like to know why McConnell freezes out non-RINOS by withholding campaign money and has just been put in a position of power to throw massive roadblocks in the agenda of a POTUS we elected despite the power of all the king’s men being used against us.

[DesertRhino]

Bottom line, an incoming president takes office whether he signs agreements with the GSA and outgoing administration or not. He doesn’t serve at the pleasure of the GSA.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Yep.

If I am footing the bill I want to know where every penny is going.

If not, your business. I have my own to attend to.

[Ge0ffrey]

Boo hoo