"I am running out of words for astonishing, but I hope Americans are not running out of astonishment. This announcement is troubling in many ways, including the idea of a private individual funding the U.S. military-much less doing so anonymously. If allowed to stand, it will be the latest step on the road toward Congress's irrelevance and the elevation of a near-monarchical presidency, whose holder can be swayed by influence and bribery but can't be meaningfully checked by public oversight."
"By the weekend, The New York Times had reported on the donor's identity: Timothy Mellon, a reclusive heir to a huge fortune. He's given millions to support Trump's campaigns, as well as to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and his Children's Health Defense. Mellon's cousin Richard Mellon Scaife poured millions into seeking dirt on President Bill Clinton in the 1990s."
President Donald Trump announced that a private donor sent a $130 million check to cover pay for the armed forces during a government shutdown. The donor was later identified as Timothy Mellon, an heir who has contributed to Trump's campaigns and to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s efforts and whose family history includes political influence and major conservative funding. The donation raises concerns about private individuals funding the military, the erosion of congressional responsibility for appropriations, and the potential for the presidency to be swayed by wealthy donors without meaningful public oversight or accountability.
Read at The Atlantic
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