Trump keeps billionaire donor’s name private as he reveals $130M donation for troops

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid concerns over a government shutdown, President Donald Trump made a stunning announcement, revealing that an anonymous billionaire had stepped in to help military families.

According to Trump, the unidentified donor contributed $130 million to fill a funding gap and ensure that US troops continued receiving their paychecks during the Democrat-led shutdown.

Trump reveals who donated $130 million to cover military pay shortfalls

During remarks from the White House on the evening of October 23, President Donald Trump revealed that an anonymous billionaire had donated $130 million to cover military pay shortfalls amid the ongoing US government shutdown. The shutdown, which began on October 1 due to budget disagreements, has affected around 46,000 troops.

Trump began his remarks by saying, “And a friend of mine, talking about donors, a friend of mine, a man that's great.”

When reporters pressed him to identify the donor, Trump declined, explaining, “I’m not going to use his name unless he lets me do it.”

He recounted that the donor had called recently, saying, “He called us the other day and he said, I'd like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown.” Trump quoted his friend as adding, “I'd like to personally contribute any shortfall you have with the military.”

Explaining the donor’s motivation, Trump said his friend told him, “I love the military and I love the country, and if there’s a shortfall, I'll contribute it, and today he sent us a check for $130 million.” According to Trump, the donor then sent a $130 million check to ensure service members received their pay.

Trump concluded by praising the donor’s generosity and humility, saying, “I would love to tell you he deserves, he doesn't really want the recognition if you want to know the truth, but he gave us a check for $130 million, which was sort of a shortfall, yeah, and that's gonna go to the military, yeah.” 

Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries call on Trump amid shutdown

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that he and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had reached out to President Donald Trump to request a meeting as the government shutdown continues.

Schumer said the two leaders “urged” the president to meet with them and expressed their willingness to schedule “an appointment with him any time, any place.”

“Hakeem and I reached out to the president today and urged him to sit down and negotiate with us to resolve the healthcare crisis, address it, and end the Trump shutdown,” Schumer said.

He added, “He should sit, the things get worse every day for the American people. He should sit down with us, negotiate in a serious way before he goes away.”

Schumer and his Democratic caucus have remained firm in their demand for an extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies. While Senate Republicans have indicated they are open to a vote on the issue once the government reopens, Democrats insist on a firm guarantee that the subsidies will be extended before they expire at the end of 2025.

So far, Senate Democrats have blocked 11 attempts by Senator John Thune and Republicans to reopen the government.