Oracle, Amazon, Lockheed Martin quietly funding – Business News
President Trump’s navy parade this weekend is predicted to be a expensive show of pomp and circumstance – and it’s being bankrolled by some main Big Tech giants.
Oracle, Lockheed Martin, Palantir, Coinbase and Amazon have lately donated to America250, the nonprofit raising funds for the nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary, the group stated.
“Many of these sponsors will support the upcoming grand military parade being held in Washington, DC, on Saturday, June 14, to celebrate the US Army’s 250th birthday,” America250 stated in a press release this week.
On Saturday, President Trump will host a navy parade in honor of the 250th anniversary of the US armed forces. Getty Images
Oracle confirmed it’s sponsoring Saturday’s parade, as did Exiger, an AI-powered provide chain management company, and Lockheed Martin, which referred to as it a “momentous occasion.”
Palantir, Coinbase and Amazon didn’t reply to The Post’s requests for remark.
The nonprofit has listed a number of different sponsors on its web site, together with Coca-Cola; Phorm Energy, an vitality drink from Anheuser-Busch; Scott’s Miracle Gro; and Stellantis auto manufacturers Chrysler, Jeep, Ram and Dodge.
The parade marks 250 years for the reason that Continental Army was shaped to tackle the British – nevertheless it’s confronted substantial heat from critics who argue it’s an over-the-top celebration for Trump’s 79th birthday, which additionally falls on Saturday.
Amazon is amongst a number of firms which have lately donated to the nonprofit raising funds for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Sundry Photography – stock.adobe.com
With flyovers, fireworks, rows of tanks and navy bands, it’s anticipated to price tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}, which Trump dismissed as “peanuts compared to the value of doing it.”
Several America250 sponsors appeared to distance themselves from the parade, as an alternative specializing in subsequent yr’s occasions celebrating 250 years of US independence.
FedEx confirmed it’s sponsoring America250’s different occasions. A source close to the matter instructed The Post this doesn’t embrace Saturday’s parade.
Walmart donated a whopping $500,000 to America250, however clarified these funds usually are not backing the parade.
With flyovers, fireworks, rows of tanks and navy bands, it’s anticipated to price tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}, which Trump dismissed as “peanuts compared to the value of doing it.” AP
“This funding will support the US Army’s National Museum Revolutionary War Exhibit and celebrations honoring youth who have signed up to serve in the Navy and Marine Corps,” a Walmart spokesperson instructed The Post.
“While we are not sponsors of the Army’s parade, we are providing water for attendees.”
Meta was listed as a sponsor in an America250 press release in May, although the Facebook proprietor confirmed it cut ties with the nonprofit in 2022.
Oracle confirmed it’s sponsoring Saturday’s parade. REUTERS
“While we are not currently a sponsor, we have had a historical relationship with America250, and we are actively exploring potential partnership opportunities with them in the future,” a Meta spokesperson instructed The Post.
That similar yr, 4 feminine workers on the nonprofit filed a lawsuit alleging “cronyism, self-dealing, mismanagement of funds, potentially unlawful contracting practices and wasteful spending,” in addition to a poisonous, sexist work setting.
One of the plaintiffs stated she expressed considerations about a “potentially unlawful quid-pro-quio” by which Meta would give a $10 million donation in exchange for rights to map national parks with drones for its “own business purposes,” the Washington Post reported on the time.
AI software program firm Palantir can also be a sponsor. Bloomberg by way of Getty Images
The plaintiffs settled with America250 in 2024, in line with courtroom filings.
The nonprofit didn’t reply to The Post’s requests for remark.
A spokesperson for Meta declined to touch upon the allegations within the go well with and didn’t reply to an inquiry about whether or not a donation was made to America250 earlier than the contract was killed.
America250 was created as a bipartisan initiative by Congress after the passage of the US Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016.
Its members embrace Attorney General Pam Bondi, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in addition to Republican and Democratic senators – together with Sen. Alex Padilla (D – Calif.), who was lately eliminated and handcuffed after interrupting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s press briefing.
