Timothy Mellon, 81, the reclusive billionaire and major donor, is making headlines by donating $50 million to a super PAC supporting Donald J. Trump. This generous contribution came just a day after the former president was convicted of 34 felonies. The donation is one of the largest single disclosed contributions in political history.
Impact on 2024 race
The donation’s impact on the 2024 presidential race is expected to be immediate. Make America Great Again Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, announced plans to reserve $100 million in advertising by Labor Day. With just $34.5 million on hand at the end of April, Mellon’s contribution substantially boosted their funds. In just a few days, the super PAC had reserved $30 million in ads for Georgia and Pennsylvania.
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Timothy Mellon is the first donor to give $100 million in declared federal contributions this election cycle. He has backed both Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running as an independent candidate. Previously, Mellon donated $25 million to super PACs supporting each candidate.
Double contribution and controversy
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Mellon’s dual contributions to both Trump and Kennedy have sparked controversy. Democrats portray Kennedy as a spoiler backed by Republicans, emphasizing Mellon’s donations to both candidates. Despite this, Mellon’s massive $50 million donation to a Trump super PAC underscores his key role in the 2024 race.
Mellon’s donation will help Trump’s campaign close the financial gap with President Biden and his allies. Other major donors include Miriam Adelson, who plans to fund a pro-Trump super PAC with a significant amount, though most of the cash has yet to come in. Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein and billionaire energy executive Kelcy Warren each contributed $5 million in May.
Who is Timothy Mellon?
Timothy Mellon is heir to a Gilded Age fortune and the grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon. Despite his famous surname, Mellon has largely avoided the publicity that surrounds major political donors. He first entered the Republican fundraising scene in 2018 with a $10 million donation.
Mellon has a reputation as an aloof and private man. He lives primarily in Wyoming and has hired political consultants to make his contributions. Very few recipients of his donations have met him, which adds to his reclusive personality.
Mellon’s past contributions
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Mellon’s $50 million donation to support Trump matches his previous contributions to other political projects. In August 2021, he donated $53 million worth of stocks to fund the private construction of a border wall in Texas, a priority of Governor Greg Abbott. Mellon’s influence is growing, as he continues to make substantial contributions to the causes he supports.
Mellon has also supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign, donating $5 million in April. Kennedy called Mellon a “unique entrepreneur” in a blurb for Mellon’s upcoming book, “Panam.Captain.” The book, to be released by Skyhorse Publishing, details Mellon’s work to transform Pan Am Systems.
Controversial statements and publications
Mellon has faced criticism for some of his past statements. His self-published autobiography was taken offline in 2016 after inflammatory excerpts became public. Mellon wrote that social programs in the 1960s and ’70s made black people “more aggressive” and described the social safety net as a “revival of slavery.”
Despite the controversy, Mellon praised Trump in a rare 2020 interview with Bloomberg, and applauded the former president’s efforts to fulfill his promises. Mellon’s continued support and significant donations to Trump highlight his influence in the political sphere.
Source: https://th-xuyenmoc.edu.vn
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