US ambassador to the NL gave $1m to Trump ballroom

The US ambassador to the Netherlands, Joe Popolo, donated $1 million towards president Donald Trump’s new White House ballroom, according to a leaked list of project donors.

The Washington Post, which obtained the list, said the gift was made late last year, around two months after the businessman was appointed ambassador. Popolo declined to comment further to the paper.

The list runs to the end of September and records 67 donations of $10,000 or more, with a total of $333 million pledged. Tech, AI and arms manufacturers made up a large share of the donors. Some, who asked to stay anonymous, accounted for $77 million.

According to the paper, about half of the money came from companies or individuals with business before the federal government. Democratic politicians had previously asked for the donor list without success.

The fund managing the money agreed with the government not to reveal the identities of its backers, which US non-profits are generally not required to do.

Trump said last year the ballroom would be paid for entirely by himself and a few friends, but the list shows no contribution from the president. The Washington Post reported earlier this year that half the construction costs, now estimated at $600 million, are being met from public funds.

The White House snubbed the criticism, saying the same critics would complain if taxpayers were paying for the renovations.

The ballroom, which the president says will hold nearly 1,000 guests, is being built on the site of the White House east wing, which Trump had demolished last year. The plans include a military bunker underneath.