Fact Check: Will Donald Trump receive $90M for his inauguration?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: As Donald Trump prepares for his inauguration on January 20, 2025, reports have surfaced that he is seeking $90 million for the event.
The claim emerged following a statement from US Representative Jasmine Crockett, a Texas Democrat, who shared on MSNBC that Trump had requested that Congress allocate the funds for his inauguration in a proposed spending bill.
Crockett also pointed out that the bill included cuts to funding for children's cancer research. Let's explore the facts behind this controversy.
What did Jasmine Crockett say about Donald Trump?
In a recent video on MSNBC's website, Representative Jasmine Crockett spoke with host Ali Velshi, stating, "At the end of the day, Ali, one of the things that Elon Musk and Vivek [Ramaswamy] and Trump didn't talk about is the fact there was $90 million on basically Page 1 of the legislation that is for his inauguration party."
She continued, "The idea that we would say it's OK for you to get $90 million for one day and then cut out $190 million for children when it comes to cancer research was absolutely mind-blowing."
Following her statement, numerous news outlets picked up the story, highlighting the shocking claim, with one outlet writing, "'Mind-blowing': Trump wanted $90M for inauguration while cutting $190M from cancer research." Additionally, many Facebook users shared the post, further spreading the same message.
Claim involving Donald Trump appears to mix both accurate and false information
After examining the details surrounding the claim, it appears to be a blend of both accurate and misleading information, according to Snopes. The $90 million mentioned by Congress was earmarked for emergency planning and security efforts in the District of Columbia through March 14, 2025, with roughly $50 million set aside specifically for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
However, it is crucial to clarify that there have been no public statements from Trump requesting or specifically expecting this funding for his inauguration.
The bill referenced by Representative Jasmine Crockett is HR 10545, commonly known as the American Relief Act. This bipartisan stopgap measure was signed into law by President Joe Biden on December 21, 2024, to ensure continued government operations until March 14, 2025.
The legislation followed a breakdown in a previous deal due to opposition from figures like Trump and Elon Musk.
A section of the bill outlines that $90 million is allocated for "District of Columbia—Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and Security Costs in the District of Columbia," with at least $50 million dedicated to inauguration-related expenses.
Additionally, the bill provides flexibility, allowing these funds to be adjusted for emergency planning and security operations as required.
The $90 million allocation is primarily designated for public safety at events held in the nation's capital. This funding is used to address potential terrorist threats or attacks and to assist with requests made by the United States Secret Service.
According to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, at least $50 million of this amount will be directed toward securing and managing logistics for Trump's inauguration in accordance with Congress' funding plan.
