Donors who donate at least $1 million to Donald Trump’s inauguration will receive an intimate dinner with Melania Trump and the newly elected president.
The Trump team is busy raising money to pay for events surrounding his swearing-in as president, including dinners and balls.
A kite, obtained by The New York Timescalled “Trump Vance Inaugural Committee Benefits,” lists the benefits of donating $1 million or raising $2 million for the event.
Donors who give that much will receive a half-dozen tickets to eight inaugural events from January 17 to 20, including the swearing-in at the Capitol on the morning of the 20th.
These events also include an “elegant and intimate dinner” with the Trumps on January 19, the day before the inauguration. The pilot calls it the ‘top event’.
Other events include a reception with Trump’s Cabinet nominees and a separate dinner with incoming Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha. And the package includes six tickets to the black-tie “Starlight Ball” with the Trumps and Vances on Monday night.
Donors who donate $1 million to Donald Trump’s inauguration will receive an intimate dinner with Melania
Melania Trump has not publicly confirmed her presence around opening events, but the flier also mentions that she will attend a service with Donald Trump on Sunday morning. Titled “One America, One Light Sunday Service,” the interfaith service will feature American military bands.
The new first lady was not a regular on the campaign trail and made very few appearances.
She declined first lady Jill Biden’s invitation for tea on the day Donald Trump met Joe Biden at the White House.
Melania has hired a chief of staff for the East Wing, but has not made any major announcements about how she will spend her second term in the White House.
It is still unclear how active she will be and where she will live.
The new first lady currently lives in New York City, while son Barron attends New York University.
She will be able to continue selling her books, jewelry and collectibles after she returns to the White House — with no legal restrictions on profiting financially as first lady.
Melania Trump has sold her memoir ‘Melania’; NFTs or non-fungible tokens; Christmas decorations; jewellery; and a digital photo collection, continuing her sales pitch even after her husband Donald Trump won a second term.
The Constitution’s Emoluments Clause prohibits an elected official from profiting from his public position. And there is a long list of rules that apply to federal employees and outside financial companies.
But a spouse is not a federal employee. And first lady is an honorary position — it’s not mentioned in the Constitution or federal law — so the rules on emoluments don’t apply.
Melania Trump’s office did not respond to an inquiry from DailyMail.com about whether she plans to continue her business ventures after Inauguration Day.
In the past, the former first lady has said she would donate some of the proceeds from her sales to charities for foster children, but she has never said how much was given.
Melania Trump has made millions from speaking fees, her business ventures, rental income and other income streams.
Donald and Melania Trump at their inaugural ball on January 20, 2017
Meanwhile, presidential inaugurations are paid for by private donors and taxpayers.
Much of the taxpayer money will go toward security needs on the day of the event, which will include a huge parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, and could cost more than $100 million.
Donor money goes to more private events. For Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, his inaugural committee raised $107 million for black-tie parties and custom gifts.
Donors and corporations typically donate as a way to support the incoming president and curry favor with the new administration. There are no limits on the amount, but gifts over $200 will be disclosed to the Federal Election Commission.
Real estate investor Steven Witkoff of Florida and former Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia chair Trump’s inaugural committee.
Witkoff was with Trump when the former president was targeted in a second assassination attempt at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September. The two have been golfing partners for many years.
Trump announced Wednesday that he is nominating Loeffler to head the Small Business Administration. He has appointed Witkoff as his envoy to the Middle East.
Trump’s first commission, which was investigated by federal prosecutors for illegal foreign donations, resulted in a 12-year prison sentence for one donor.
In addition, the companies and Trump’s inaugural committee reached a deal to pay Washington DC $750,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that the committee overpaid for events at the then-Trump hotel, harming Trump’s family had enriched the former president.
Trump later sold his DC property. It is now a Waldorf-Astoria hotel.