Apple, Nvidia Among Top Donors to Trump's White House Ballroom Project

Apple and Nvidia each contributed $25 million to President Trump's White House ballroom project, emerging as two of the largest donors in a private fundraising effort, according to a report.

The project has raised a total of $333 million from private donors, with at least $77 million from individuals who requested anonymity, documents obtained by The Washington Post indicated.

Other significant donors include the Adelson family and Charles Ergen, co-founder and chairman of Dish Network, who also each gave $25 million. The Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Foundation contributed $20.27 million.

Companies such as Microsoft, Palantir, and Lockheed Martin each donated $10 million, while Amazon, T-Mobile, and Meta each contributed $5 million. Comcast gave $7.5 million.

Additionally, Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, directed $22 million from a settlement related to a lawsuit alleging censorship toward the project. This lawsuit stemmed from Trump's suspension from YouTube.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle defended the donations, stating that the administration does not disclose personal information about private contributions to nonprofits. "The donors for the White House ballroom project represent a wide array of great American companies and generous individuals, all of whom are contributing to make the People’s House better for generations to come," Ingle said.

Nvidia's support for the project came approximately three months before the company reached an agreement with the White House to export its AI chips to China, a decision made despite national security concerns. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had described the company's contribution as "in a small way" and the company reportedly requested its donation be kept private.

Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, had previously made a personal $1 million donation to Trump's inaugural fund in January 2025 and later presented Trump with a custom plaque.

The report highlighted concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given that many donors have interests subject to federal government oversight.

The White House has pushed back against these concerns, with Ingle criticizing The Washington Post for reporting on leaked documents and accusing the outlet of risking the privacy of donors. "We will relentlessly pursue those responsible for this cowardly leak while continuing to protect all those who give," Ingle stated.

Construction on the ballroom project, which is planned to be nearly 90,000 square feet and seat 1,000 guests, is set to continue for now. The Supreme Court ruled in August that work could proceed while Trump challenges a judicial order that sought to halt construction. Trump's administration has previously cited national security as a reason for the project, noting it includes features such as bomb shelters, medical facilities, and sniper nests.