President-elect Donald Trump smashed fundraising records for his inauguration, according to a Friday report from the Associated Press.
Trump managed to raise an astounding $90 million dollars in private individual donations for the inauguration, more than President Barack Obama raised in 2009 and 2013 combined. Obama raised $55 million the first year, and $43 million the second, for contrast.
Trump plans to use the funds to host 3 inaugural balls, much fewer than the 10 balls Obama hosted during the inauguration in 2009. Trump also decided to limit the parade to only 90 minutes long, a severe cut from an event that can last as long as 4 and a half hours.
The inaugural decorations, bleachers along Pennsylvania Avenue, and security to the event will also come out of the fund, with over $2.5 million of the funds going to reimburse Capitol Police for overtime expenditures.
Democratic celebrities want to ensure that the inauguration won’t get high ratings as with other inaugurations. Celebrities planned a “love-a-thon” in Miami beach including Jane Fonda, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tim Robbins, and others for a concert that aims to take a huge bite out of Trump’s ratings as a sign of protest.
Twenty celebrities also announced they would not perform at the inauguration, although only a few of the protesting celebs were asked to attend the event.
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