Staff Reports
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has put its money where its mouth is by donating $50,000 to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration committee. This hefty sum doubles the $25,000 contribution the group made to Trump’s inaugural festivities back in 2017. It’s clear that the Chamber, which spent an eye-watering $53.4 million lobbying for pro-business interests last year alone, knows where to invest its dollars wisely. Notably, the Chamber chose not to support President Biden’s 2021 inauguration—perhaps they sensed a bit of buyer’s remorse in those pink ties and well-fed cats known as the Democratic Party.
In a statement, the Chamber laid out its priorities for the upcoming administration, emphasizing a commitment to policies that foster economic growth, increase paychecks, and enhance housing affordability. They also aim to maintain a competitive tax code as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act approaches its moment of expiration in December 2025. One can only imagine how thrilled they are to have Trump back at the helm, promising to cut those burdensome regulations that the left loves to pile on.
The Chamber’s recent donation is not just a frivolous show of support; it demonstrates the eagerness of advocacy groups and corporations to cozy up to Trump. However, the $50,000 figure looks quaint when compared to contributions from tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta, who each pledged a jaw-dropping $1 million. Yet it’s not all about the money; Trump’s inaugural committee has raked in over $170 million, presumably to throw the kind of galas that make all other parties feel like they were thrown in a dingy basement.
Chamber of Commerce doubles giving to Trump inauguration https://t.co/JHAqI400YV
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 12, 2025
Interestingly, while the Chamber’s employees have generously contributed hundreds of thousands to campaigns, with a whopping 86% going to Republicans, they seem to be receiving a fair bit of flak from the more populist faction of the GOP. Some representative, namely Jason Smith from Missouri, has even raised eyebrows over the Chamber’s past financial entanglements with the Tides Foundation, a left-leaning organization—a combo that has bewitched many in conservative circles who cherish merit and hard work over woke nonsense.
As the Trump administration gears up, the Chamber will find itself walking a fine line. On one side, it’s championing free-market ideals—music to the ears of traditional conservatives. On the other, it needs to tackle a GOP that may be less accommodating to corporate initiatives that prioritize diversity and inclusion over meritocracy. With all of this on the table, one thing is clear: Trump’s return opens a new chapter, one in which a clashing of interests is all but inevitable. The stage is set for quite the showdown in the upcoming political landscape.
