Trump’s secret friend donates $130,000,000 to pay Army salaries amid US Shutdown, he is…

Trump did not reveal the donor's name because he wished to remain anonymous.

New Delhi: The Pentagon, the US Department of Defence, announced on Friday, October 24, that it had accepted a secret donation of $130 million (approximately Rs. 1,100 crores) for military salaries. This donation came from an unidentified “friend” of President Donald Trump to ensure soldiers receive their salaries during the government shutdown. However, this donation has raised several questions.

Trump announced the donation at the White House

Trump announced the donation at the White House on Thursday, October 24, and called the donor a patriot. He did not reveal the donor’s name because he wished to remain anonymous. It has been 25 days since the government shutdown began in the US on October 1. The two major parties, Democrats and Republicans, are at loggerheads over the Obama healthcare subsidy programme.

Democrats wanted to increase healthcare subsidies. Republicans fear that if the subsidy is increased, the government will need more money to spend, which will impact other government functions.

Who could be the donor?

It is being speculated that Timothy Mellon, a billionaire businessman and heir to one of America’s most prominent banking dynasties, is the one who has donated this money.

What will the money be used for?

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the money will be used for soldiers’ salaries and other benefits. He also accused Democrats of withholding soldiers’ salaries. However, this $130 million is far less than the billions needed to pay soldiers. Last week, the Trump administration provided $6.5 billion to pay soldiers.

The next paycheck is due in a few days, and it’s unclear how the government will manage the money again. Last week, the government used some of the $8 billion allotted for military research for salaries. But doing so again next week may be difficult.

Questions about donation rules and transparency

Max Stier, head of the Partnership for Public Service, called the donation “strange” and said it didn’t seem right to fund soldiers’ salaries with private donations. He likened it to “paying someone’s bar bill.” He questioned the rules and transparency surrounding this donation.

Pentagon regulations require that before accepting donations exceeding $10,000, it must verify the donor’s alleged connection to the Department of Defence. However, the donor’s name and full details of the donation have not yet been revealed.