Trump ally who donated $130 million to pay troops amid shutdown revealed as reclusive billionaire heir: report
In a surprising turn of events during the recent government shutdown, the Pentagon received a substantial $130 million donation aimed at covering military personnel salaries, which was initially shrouded in mystery. The anonymous benefactor has now been revealed as Timothy Mellon, a billionaire banking heir and a notable supporter of former President Donald Trump. Trump publicly acknowledged the donation, praising Mellon as a “patriot” and a “great American citizen,” while emphasizing that the donor preferred to remain out of the limelight. Despite Trump’s reluctance to disclose Mellon’s identity initially, reports quickly surfaced identifying him as the source of the generous contribution.
Timothy Mellon, who is the grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon, has emerged as a significant financial backer for Trump, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential campaign. His recent donation is not just a one-off act of generosity; it reflects a broader trend of Mellon’s increasing political engagement, particularly since Trump’s election in 2016. He has been known to funnel tens of millions into pro-Trump groups, including a notable $50 million donation to a super PAC supporting Trump’s re-election efforts. Beyond his support for Trump, Mellon has also contributed to the campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., showcasing his diverse political interests. However, despite his wealth and influence, Mellon has maintained a low profile, opting for privacy over the typical visibility associated with high-profile donors.
The Pentagon accepted Mellon’s donation under its “general gift acceptance authority,” with the stipulation that the funds be allocated specifically for service members’ salaries and benefits. However, this donation raises questions about potential violations of the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from spending beyond congressional appropriations. As the Pentagon navigates the complexities of this unprecedented donation, there remains uncertainty regarding how long the funds will sustain military paychecks amidst ongoing budgetary constraints. This situation highlights not only the challenges faced by the military during government shutdowns but also the intricate interplay between private donations and public funding in the realm of national defense.
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The anonymous donor who gave $130 million to the Pentagon to pay troops during the government shutdown has been identified as Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and a major financial backer of President
Donald Trump
, according to a report.
Trump announced the donation on Thursday, but declined to reveal the donor’s identity, only describing him as a “patriot” and a friend. The president again refused to name the person on Friday while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One shortly after departing Washington for Asia, calling the donor “a great American citizen” and a “substantial man.”
“He doesn’t want publicity,” Trump said on Friday. “He prefer that his name not be mentioned, which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned.”
But the two people familiar with the matter told The New York Times that the man is Mellon, a wealthy banking heir and railroad magnate.
MYSTERY TRUMP ALLY DONATES $130M TO COVER TROOPS’ PAYCHECKS AMID SHUTDOWN CHAOS
It remains unclear how long the donation will cover the troops’ salaries. The Trump administration’s 2025 budget asked for about $600 billion in total military compensation, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The $130 million donation would equal about $100 a service member, according to
The New York Times
.
Mellon, a grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon, is a
backer of Trump
who gave tens of millions of dollars to groups supporting the president’s 2024 campaign. Last year, he gave $50 million to a super PAC supporting Trump, making it one of the largest single contributions ever disclosed, the newspaper noted.
The billionaire was not a prominent Republican donor until Trump was first elected but has given hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years into supporting the president and the GOP.
He is also a significant supporter of Health and Human Services Secretary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
, who also ran for president in 2024, first as a Democrat and later as an independent before dropping out to endorse Trump. Mellon donated millions to Kennedy’s presidential campaign and has also given money to the secretary’s anti-vaccine nonprofit, Children’s Health Defense, according to The New York Times.
Despite his political contributions, Mellon has sought to keep a low profile.
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In an autobiography published in 2015, Mellon described himself as a former liberal who moved from Connecticut to Wyoming for lower taxes and fewer people.
The Pentagon said it accepted the donation under the “general gift acceptance authority.”
“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement to The New York Times.
But the donation may be a potential violation of the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from spending money in excess of congressional appropriations or from accepting voluntary services.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
