Timothy Mellon is Trump's $130M Mystery Military Donor: NYT

Sunday, October 26, 2025

The mystery donor whose $130 million contribution is meant to pay U.S. military troops during the government shutdown is Timothy Mellon, an heir to a renowned Gilded Age banking family, The New York Times reported Saturday.

Posted by Corky at 02:33 PM | 26 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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The banking heir, who keeps a low public profile, was also a MAGA mega donor in 2024.

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-- The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast.bsky.social) Oct 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM

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"But Mellon's donation works out to only about $100 per service member. It costs nearly $6.4 billion to pay U.S. troops every two weeks.

And using his money might run afoul of federal law, according to the Times, which cited two people familiar with the matter in identifying the billionaire railroad magnate as the donor."

"The donation might have violated the Antideficiency Act, which bars federal agencies from spending funds that have not been appropriated by Congress, the Times reported."

;;

There is other speculation that this 'donation' amount is really money pegged for the Trump Ballroom and Protestor Bunker.

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2025-10-25 04:31 PM | Reply

But Mellon's donation works out to only about $100 per service member.

So they get 2 dolls instead of 30 dolls. No big.

#2 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-10-25 04:48 PM | Reply

Suckers and losers

#3 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-10-25 05:16 PM | Reply

A patriot.

#4 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-10-26 09:10 PM | Reply

@#4 ... A patriot. ...

In some respects, I'd agree with you.

But, that aside, why do we need to rely upon the oligarchy to pay (minimal pay) those who server our Country?

By your definition, Pres Trump, then, is not a patriot because he has refused to pay our Service members via his shutdown.

#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-10-26 09:38 PM | Reply

"There is other speculation that this 'donation' amount is really money pegged for the Trump Ballroom and Protestor Bunker."

Just because this administration says something does not mean it's even close to true.

You cannot believe anything this administration puts out or "leaks" to the public.

Not without multiple verifications from very reliable sources.

"It won't interfere with the current building." "It'll be near it but not touching it," the president promised. "And it pays total respect to the existing building, which I'm the biggest fan of."

The, on October 23, 2025, a day that will live in infamy, he tore down the entire East Wing of the White House before anyone could stop him.

#6 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-10-27 11:30 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

It's a nice gesture, but it probably would have been better to divert the money to USAA. In the past USAA has covered members paychecks during government shut-downs. This time, they are not.

#7 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-10-27 12:03 PM | Reply

would have been better to divert the money to USAA

The money will go towards gold trinkets for the "ballroom".

#8 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-10-27 12:08 PM | Reply

's a nice gesture, but it probably would have been better to divert the money to USAA. In the past USAA has covered members paychecks during government shut-downs. This time, they are not.

#7 | POSTED BY MADBOMBER AT

To hold this position one must willfully stupid or evil

Just sayin

Truth hurts

#9 | Posted by truthhurts at 2025-10-27 12:19 PM | Reply

"To hold this position one must willfully stupid or evil"

why?

#10 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-27 12:35 PM | Reply

#10

Yeah. I'm a bit confused as well.

I told some of the military dudes I work with that I can probably cover them if they don't get a paycheck. I know I didn't have a lot of money when I was a Major.

#11 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-10-27 12:38 PM | Reply

would have been better to divert the money to USAA
- madbomber

USAA is in free fall afaik, they've had some sort of H1B hiring scandal.

#12 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-27 12:53 PM | Reply

why do we need to rely upon the oligarchy to pay (minimal pay) those who server our Country?

Because ObamaCare became an outrageous Trainwreck.

#13 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-27 12:55 PM | Reply

Look at this loser blaming the-------------'s myriad of epic failures on Obama. How pathetic.

#14 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-10-27 01:00 PM | Reply

"ObamaCare became an outrageous Trainwreck"

That's what happens when you throw a monkey wrench into the gears. Every time.

Republicans killed O'Care the minute they rescinded the mandate. Any and all blame is due them.

#15 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-10-27 01:05 PM | Reply

Really? Some of y'all are actually stumped on why our military being paid by private citizens is a bad idea? You need to be told why private money funding our military is a dangerous proposition?

You're joking, right?

#16 | Posted by jpw at 2025-10-27 01:40 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#10
Yeah. I'm a bit confused as well.
I told some of the military dudes I work with that I can probably cover them if they don't get a paycheck. I know I didn't have a lot of money when I was a Major.

#11 | Posted by madbomber

So, which are you willfully stupid or evil?

Let's start with the fact that it is illegal.

Let's move on to the president bypassing congress to spend money.

Let's continue on to the obvious blatant corruption involved with this.

Simply put this is not a way a democracy operates. This is the way an oligarchy and/or king operates.

If you weren't stupid or evil this would be obvious to you.

#17 | Posted by truthhurts at 2025-10-27 01:40 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#13 | Posted by oneironaut

Because you're a stupid pile of s*&^ who should STFU and f*&^ off.

#18 | Posted by jpw at 2025-10-27 01:41 PM | Reply

Really? Some of y'all are actually stumped on why our military being paid by private citizens is a bad idea? You need to be told why private money funding our military is a dangerous proposition?
You're joking, right?

#16 | Posted by jpw

They're not joking they are among the morally bankrupt magat scum that have taken over our country.

#19 | Posted by truthhurts at 2025-10-27 01:41 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Privatizing the United States military, what could possibly be wrong with that.

#20 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-27 01:45 PM | Reply

"So, which are you willfully stupid or evil? Let's start with the fact that it is illegal."

USAA offered to cover paychecks during shutdowns the entire time I was on active duty.

So...I'm pretty sure it's not illegal.

Would you have an issue if a private donor was willing to fund COVID subsidies for ACA?

#21 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-10-27 01:50 PM | Reply

Because ObamaCare became an outrageous Trainwreck.

nutnaut still thinks he's getting a medbed.

#22 | Posted by horstngraben at 2025-10-27 01:52 PM | Reply

I'm gonna go out on a limb and hazard a guess that most of you ATM smashers don't even know what USAA is...

#23 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-10-27 01:53 PM | Reply

"You need to be told why private money funding our military is a dangerous proposition?"

Private money is just that until it's not private any longer.

but private money does fund our military.

Private money funds politicians who write those checks

Private money funds the technology that ends up in the hands of our military.

Private money issuing low/no interest payday loans to members of the military? That's what USAA does.

Now, outright paying the salaries of our military with private money? Yeah....easy to see the slippery slope there.

#24 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-27 02:11 PM | Reply

"but private money does fund our military."

No.

You then went on to describe a number of scenarios where private money becomes Uncle Sam's money.

#25 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-10-27 02:59 PM | Reply

Y'all are reaching too hard.

Me thinks it's because you feel like it's wrong but don't want to, for whatever reason, bring yourself to admit it that having the most powerful military ever to exist at the behest of private citizens who are actively paying them is a massively bad idea.

Or, you're just obtuse idiots who don't get it. *shrug*

#26 | Posted by jpw at 2025-10-27 04:29 PM | Reply