Donald Trump offering huge perks for inauguration donors

Got a million dollars or more of spare change rattling around in your pocket? Trump's inaugural committee has a deal for you...

Donald Trump’s inaugural committee is offering huge perks — prime tickets, luxurious lodging, access to the president-elect himself — in exchange for six- and seven-figure contributions from individual and corporate contributors.

Donors in the “$1,000,000+” category will receive four tickets to a “leadership luncheon” billed as an “exclusive inaugural event” for donors in that category and featuring “select Cabinet appointees and House and Senate leadership to honor our most generous inaugural supporters,” according to a brochure obtained by the Center for Public Integrity.

So if you're wealthy, you can have a small audience with all the important Trump people...although you are not guaranteed access to the swearing-in ceremony.

Million dollar donors have even more perks available:

They’ll also get four tickets to a dinner with Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, and eight tickets to a “ladies luncheon” billed as “an opportunity to meet the ladies of the first families.” In addition, they’ll receive tickets to a series of other dinners and receptions featuring Trump, Pence and other officials, and eight “premier access” tickets to a black-tie inaugural ball attended by the president, vice president and their wives.

source

Yahoo News (and other sources) confirm the deal

As is the custom for presidential inaugurations, the package deals progressively increase in cost — with more access, more events, and more tickets the more you give. These packages are, to say the least, not exactly for the blue-collar workers who helped Trump take Michigan or Ohio. And, given the hefty price tags, they could interfere with Trump’s efforts to “drain the swamp” of special interests in the nation’s capital.

The lowest-priced offering, at $25,000, gets you two tickets to the Inaugural Parade, an “entertainment-filled” Victory Reception, admission to the Inaugural Concert and Fireworks show and a black-tie ball.

Got even more money to toss around? Turns out that there's an even pricier option:

A $250,000 check will get will get you all that plus admission for two to the Ladies Luncheon where you get to “meet the ladies of the first families.” But if you also want to attend the Candlelight Dinner with Trump and Pence, the price tag for admission for four is $500,000.

One of my friends noted that this was affordable for Trump's business partners but not for many other people. I wonder how many will shell out that kind of money for this.

a reply to: Byrd

Where were you when Clinton was holding the big dinners for 6 figures and spent approximately 1.5 billion on her campaign from these donors.

Sorry, no sympathy from me. Had she actually used the money to campaign to 'everyday' people and had a message that appealed to them, she might have won.

a reply to: liveandlearn

So... are you in favor of politicians charging extreme amounts of money to hold "special events where the rich get special access to the politician and his/her friends" or are you against it?

Personally, I'm against it, no matter who the politician.

And the idea that Trump's foreign business partners can buy into his special-access inauguration package doesn't seem like much of an advantage for America. He needs to be listening to Americans, not people from India and elsewhere.

In my mind, the inauguration is for American citizens... not an event for foreign business partners to cozy up to the President's cabinet.

if people are stupid enough to pay that kind of money, let them!

So in other words...it's lobbying. Which Trump is supposedly against. The paying of money for access to and time with the president. Except Trumps people set the price of admission...

Classy.

So if you're wealthy, you can have a small audience with all the important Trump people...although you are not guaranteed access to the swearing-in ceremony.

Who do you think runs the country? Who else would he have to negotiate with. The delivery boy? He is working for all of American. He is also part of America.

I don't mean to derail your thread, but did you hear? He got the company Carrier to keep 1000 jobs in America. It wasn't all the jobs, but hey, it is a lot more than I have seen from any of the politicians in office. And he isn't even the President, yet.

Oh, but for the glorious times of days gone past. Back to the times of Andrew Jackson and a kegger in the White House for the Inauguration. Memories

From your OP

As is the custom for presidential inaugurations, the package deals progressively increase in cost — with more access, more events, and more tickets the more you give.

I didnt see too much of an issue even before that but the fact it happens at every inauguration makes it a non event.
The only reason this could be considered news is if you hate Trump and are looking hard for things to justify that hate

originally posted by: Byrd
a reply to: liveandlearn

So... are you in favor of politicians charging extreme amounts of money to hold "special events where the rich get special access to the politician and his/her friends" or are you against it?

Personally, I'm against it, no matter who the politician.

And the idea that Trump's foreign business partners can buy into his special-access inauguration package doesn't seem like much of an advantage for America. He needs to be listening to Americans, not people from India and elsewhere.

In my mind, the inauguration is for American citizens... not an event for foreign business partners to cozy up to the President's cabinet.

I know you didn't ask me, but if I may answer. Trump made the statement he is leaving his business's behind. Now he layed out no details as of yet, but he did state it. Now should he sail his time to rich people? Well right or wrong Trump is a businessman. He intends to recoup his loss while running for President. I will say though, I can understand why you find it kinda of shady. As far as the Inauguration. It is for the President. He won it, like he said he would. So far he seems to be a man of his word. I just hope he can out maneuver all of the bureaucracy headed his way.

originally posted by: the owlbear
So in other words...it's lobbying. Which Trump is supposedly against. The paying of money for access to and time with the president. Except Trumps people set the price of admission...

Classy.

No. Lobbying has a set of guidelines that it must at least pretend to abide by. He is hiding nothing.

originally posted by: IkNOwSTuff
From your OP

As is the custom for presidential inaugurations, the package deals progressively increase in cost — with more access, more events, and more tickets the more you give.

I didnt see too much of an issue even before that but the fact it happens at every inauguration makes it a non event.
The only reason this could be considered news is if you hate Trump and are looking hard for things to justify that hate

Very psychological. I kind of want to like it.

originally posted by: Byrd
a reply to: liveandlearn

So... are you in favor of politicians charging extreme amounts of money to hold "special events where the rich get special access to the politician and his/her friends" or are you against it?

Personally, I'm against it, no matter who the politician.

And the idea that Trump's foreign business partners can buy into his special-access inauguration package doesn't seem like much of an advantage for America. He needs to be listening to Americans, not people from India and elsewhere.

In my mind, the inauguration is for American citizens... not an event for foreign business partners to cozy up to the President's cabinet.

In a word No.

But your one sided post is blatant hypocrisy.

Trump's foreign business partners? What about Clinton's foreign partners who donate to the foundation in a pay to play. Guess you listen to MSM and didn't take a look at wikileaks multiple examples of the Clinton's pay to play.


That aside, inaugurations and everything surrounding it cost money. It comes out of the pocket of the millions of american's that can't afford to go. So okay, he is giving perks to those who can afford it to pay for the inaugrationl.

I don't like it but better it comes out of their pocket than mine.

originally posted by: liveandlearn
a reply to: Byrd

Where were you when Clinton was holding the big dinners for 6 figures and spent approximately 1.5 billion on her campaign from these donors.

Oh, we've heard plenty about that from the Right.

But, that was Clinton.

Its different now, didn't ya know? Trump can do whatever he wants - - and that's OK.

a reply to: the owlbear

He said he would drain the swamp, but conveniently left out the part where he creates another so he could reap more profit.

a reply to: IkNOwSTuff

The only reason this could be considered news is if you hate Trump and are looking hard for things to justify that hate.

OR... the OP doen't agree with anyone doing it and is simply pointing out to the sycophants that Trump isn't draining any swamp at all and that in reality, he's everything Trump supporters claimed to hate about Clinton... but more of it.

The more contortions, the more obvious it is that the die hard supporters didn't care that much in the first place.

I may not care for Trump...but I'm fairly sure this is a pretty regular thing for new incoming presidents to do.

Dinner with Pence?

You know, if I had that kind of money I might actually do it. Why? Just because I would want to see how uncomfortable I could make the man. Eat with my fingers, pass gas ect.

"I'm getting my one million dollar's worth!"

Then, I might pull a card from Mr. Trump's playbook and refuse to pay or demand my money back. I wasn't satisfied. The food was terrible, the company even worse. Nope, why should I pay full price for something that didn't deliver as advertised?



On a serious note, its disgusting that this even happens in either major political party. It essentially creates a divide between the people and the wealthy. Those of us without millions of dollars aren't even on the same plane of existence. We only matter once every 4 years (and even then with the electoral college not really that much).

a reply to: theantediluvian

I'd like to see a (non MSM) poll of why voters voted for Donald Trump. For me, "draining the swamp" was at the bottom of the list of reasons why I voted for him.

a reply to: Grimpachi

Wait till he appoints a general who was spilling secrets to his mistress (because no espionage agency has ever pried secrets from high ranking people with sex) and the Trump faithful eagerly forgive that transgression while demanding more investigations into Clinton's emails.

originally posted by: theantediluvian
a reply to: IkNOwSTuff

The only reason this could be considered news is if you hate Trump and are looking hard for things to justify that hate.

OR... the OP doen't agree with anyonedoing it and is simply pointing out to the sycophants that Trump isn't draining any swamp at all and that in reality, he's everything Trump supporters claimed to hate about Clinton... but more of it.

The more contortions, the more obvious it is that the die hard supporters didn't care that much in the first place.

OOPS!

Is it that obvious?

originally posted by: Kettu
I may not care for Trump...but I'm fairly sure this is a pretty regular thing for new incoming presidents to do.

Me too.

It's just the hypocrisy . . . .