Post

Are they threatened?

There basically were no "2021 inaugural festivities" to donate to. No balls, no giant parties, etc., etc. There was a COVID-19 pandemic going on then. You might remember it, I think the media mentioned it from time to time. Context matters when it comes to data like this.

From Microsoft's Copilot within the last minute:

Yes, $1 million is pocket change for these companies.

It’s sick that large companies can openly bribe the government like this

Trump's inaugural fund is basically a mechanism to collect mob protection money from major corporations. Either they pay up or the companies will face legal actions from the government (anti-trust, etc) and the CEOs could possibly face criminal prosecution. Same as Mexican cartel protection money.

All are obeying in advance. That’s counter to Timothy Snyder’s first lesson in his booklet On Tyranny.

Juxtapose the money raised for elections and inaugurations with the Money needed to be better prepared for natural disasters.

What that money could do for folks in California who have lost everything.

A bribe by any other name is still a bribe.

Bonus: Trump gets to call Apple CEO "Tim Apple" and he has to like it.

Throughout history the wealthy have paid tribute to the ruler

They know which side their bread is buttered on now

“never mind”.

Makes you wonder what changed, huh?

Apparently $1M is the first payment in a four-year protection racket.

Those who had the power to stand alone….instead kneeled down and kissed the ring! Truly disgusted!

reposted by WaPo… Bold move, hopefully father Bezos doesn’t see!

The 1930s German industrialists were trend setters. Who knew?

Voy a salir de Google y Gmail también.

How did they all happen to land on a mil as the right figure? They're price fixing their bribes, too, aren't they?

It shows that money can make you evil.

Looks more like a tribute-tax / protection money to the incoming army general / mafia boss...

Contribution limits would be my guess. There's no way to tell how much any of them have actually given through dark money pipelines.

IKR... I can't think of any reason for this at all... ;p

Amazing how the richest men in the world are prepared to give up any sense of HONOR for more money.

I'm glad that Bezos has too fallen in line. Good Job WaPo!!!

The people spoke. The market responds.

They will betray their country to keep their money. How sad.

Tech billionaires aren't being dragged, kicking and screaming. Anyone that pays attention to silicon valley can vouch that these people's politics are dangerously reactionary. Trump is an outgrowth of the sickness, not the cause.

Boycott time

Time to boycott

This is sickening. But it also represents a common pattern -- big business often aligns itself with authoritarians early on, because they are anti-union, anti-socialist, and allow business to operate with greater control and less regulation. They also channel govt resources to business.

🫏🕳️s.

They should buy Javlins for that 🤣

Grovelling cowards all, may they rot along with the USA's declining credibility.

What to make of the fact that each of them gave exactly $1M? Was that DT’s asking price? Is this even legal?

Protection money. Same for ABC/Disney.

Justice, honor, and integrity to the highest bidders!!

The funny thing is no matter how much money they give him it will never be enough. He's got them by the gonads! One little thing can turn him against any of them. He has no loyalty.

Btw how much does it cost to set up some chairs and book a few ballrooms anyway?What happens to the leftovers?

Stop with this non-sense that they have all "fallen in line" be/c they made a political contribution. They know Trump is vindictive. So rather than spend $20 million fighting the govt on some bullshit charge, they made a pay off for the benefit of them and their shareholders. Grow up.

If £1m is the base price, that will buy you nothing except not being shut down or sanctioned by him in the first six months. It's just a protection racket.

Why $1. Mil? Seems like an odd number.

A million dollars to these guys is the equivalent of someone with a mortgage picking up an extra six-pack at the end of the week. It's NOTHING to them. Imagine how many lives could be changed by this money being used for literally anything else.

Thanks for putting this comparison into the world; a lot of the early coverage missed this important point.

I am not sure that the death of #Zuck in prison is such a terrible outcome

Fear is a hellova drug.

why dont we have donation limits for this like regular campaign committees do?? wild

That election was bought by the billionaires.

Probably hire a Trump affiliated company and other grifters for no-show “consulting” gigs and take the cash that way…here’ what happened in 2016. www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/tru...

It’s going to be hilarious when he uses the sheer obviousness of the attempt to curry favor as the very reason to attack them even harder.

Big tech also looking for a hedge /protection when EU comes after US tech for violating EU privacy and monopoly laws. Want Trump to threaten the world on big tech’s behalf.

Could you please do a follow-up piece that explains in depth where this money actually goes, how it is used, and how it is accounted for? The article said it’s earmarked for inaugural festivities but can be used by political allies for other purposes. Details please?

How objective is the Amazon produced film about Melania going to be?

Concerning

Bunch of suckers

See!!! I knew he was acting in fear. That trip to Washington. Those hearings??? What did they tell him then.

📌

Of course they did. Scoundrels all.

I really want to be a fly on the wall and hear what PINO has over all of these people who before were against him and now are 100% loyalists…so I can expose others of this. Does he hypnotize them? Drug them? Threaten their family? Have dirt on them? I really want to know.

I don’t get this . Is this a new phenomenon to give a new elected president money? For what? Oh it is so he , the orange man, can do you a favor later? Is that what the expectation are ? Weird ‼️

Is this 7 million (or more)going straight the orange man pockets?

Trump's protection racket is working. "Yous shouldn't oughta have to experience no internet interruptions, so hows about sharing a little pocket change for my shindig?"

It's like the school boy handing over their allowance to the bully in hopes of avoiding possible pain.

Power and influence reshape convictions swiftly.

Power and politics make unexpected allies. Thoughts?

Spineless!!

They sicken me.

It’s that tariff exemption payment.

It's important to remember that corporations do not have morals or principles; they are machines. What is new, though, is that they are now run by people who also don't have morals or principles. * ...although they dropped that pretense the moment they thought nobody was looking.

Our lightly regulated capitalistic society 🫤

Trump is transactional. They’ve made a transaction. For some of them, it’s the cost of doing business - a million now avoids tfg’s petulance. For some, the prospect of even more money is enough (Smaug billionaires). Some want the power like a feudal lord. None of them are afraid.

I’m way ahead of you…been boycotting Zuck, Musk and Bezos for close to a month now. No sweat. Long as I have BlueSky.

A lotta good it will do.

How to avoid using their services and giving these giants revenues? Not easy...

Billionaires be for sale.

I can’t help but feel that they all know something we don’t. Like they’ve already agreed/conspired to what ever it is that’s coming, and they need to stick together and ensure its success. I don’t know what it is or it’s if anything, just seems weird that it’s all of a sudden gone this way.

Spineless.

It’s like they overlooked the “don’t” in “Don’t obey in advance.”

"A slave begins by demanding justice and ends by wanting to wear a crown"

It's a race to become the first TRILLIONARE

Disgusting.

So has Jeff Bezos

It is sad that corporate America is forced into paying for protection.

Mob boss got his piece

The people have spoken (half of them, and we're in business).

What, did trump threaten Bezos too? Is that why he let Donnie walk over him and dump the Post’s endorsement of Harris? Inquiring minds want to know, Jeff.