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is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, user tech, crypto, societal media, and overmuch more. Previously, she was a writer and editor astatine MUO.
The Trump management approached Microsoft for its aid to money the White House’s $300 cardinal ballroom, documents released by Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) agency reveal.
In consequence to a Democrat-led missive questioning Big Tech’s engagement successful the ballroom’s construction, Microsoft counsel Karen Christian writes that the institution “was contacted by a fundraiser for the effort regarding a imaginable donation” astir 2 months aft President Donald Trump announced plans to switch the White House’s East Wing pinch a privately funded ballroom.
“At that time, Microsoft was provided accusation concerning the Trust for the National Mall’s guidance of contributions for this task arsenic a partner of the National Park Service, instructions connected really to donate, and an invitation to be a meal held for supporters of the project, which Microsoft attended,” Christian says.
In different letter, Amazon’s vice president of nationalist policy, Brian Huseman, similarly admitted that the e-commerce elephantine “communicated pinch the fundraising group moving connected the task opening successful August 2025.” Huseman added that Amazon “did not reappraisal immoderate building plans aliases participate into an statement related to the donation.”
Meanwhile, Comcast’s letter says the institution “pledged an unrestricted aid to the Trust for the National Mall,” pinch “no circumstantial limitations aliases conditions connected really the proceeds were to beryllium utilized aliases spent.” It besides says it “made the aid pinch nary expectations of receiving thing successful return.”
The letters written by different companies, including Meta, Nvidia, and Apple, didn’t uncover overmuch astir the aid process. Apple’s authorities affairs head, Tim Powderly, for example, writes that the aid was “handled ethically, honestly, and successful afloat compliance pinch the law.”
Disclosure: Comcast is an investor successful Vox Media, The Verge’s genitor company.
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