Private dinner with Melania and Donald Trump comes with $2 million price tag

Supporters with deep pockets have a rare opportunity to join an “elegant and intimate dinner” with US President-elect Donald Trump and incoming First Lady Melania Trump, but it comes with a hefty price tag.

According to a flier titled ‘Trump Vance Inaugural Committee Benefits,’ accessed by The New York Times, donors who shell out $1 million or raise $2 million on behalf of the campaign will get to rub shoulders with the power couple at the exclusive event on January 19.

The dinner is billed as the “pinnacle event” of the inauguration festivities, with attendees also receiving six tickets to Trump’s swearing-in ceremony on January 20.

The flier marks one of the few public confirmations of Melania Trump’s participation in inaugural events.

During the 2024 campaign, she largely remained out of the spotlight, attending only a handful of events. Reports suggest she may continue to keep a low profile during her husband’s second term, splitting her time between New York City—where their son, Barron, is studying at NYU—and Palm Beach, Florida.

A PRICEY AFFAIR

Other perks for elite donors include a reception with Trump’s Cabinet nominees and a separate dinner with Vice President-elect Senator JD Vance and his wife, Usha.

Those contributing between $50,000 and $1 million will gain access to a “Starlight Ball” the evening of the inauguration, Axios reported.

Raising private funds for inaugural events is a common practice for incoming presidents, as taxpayer dollars are reserved for official ceremonies like the swearing-in and inaugural luncheon at the Capitol. Private donations cover events such as the inaugural parade, concerts, and balls.

According to the Independent, President Joe Biden’s inaugural committee accepted donations of up to $500,000 from individuals and $1 million from corporations in 2021, while Barack Obama raised $53 million for his first inauguration in 2009.

Unlike prior inaugural committees, the Trump Vance committee is structured as a political nonprofit for tax purposes and has no cap on donations. This has raised eyebrows given the controversies surrounding Trump’s first inaugural committee in 2016.

That effort raised a record $107 million, some of which came under federal investigation for alleged illegal foreign donations, resulting in a 12-year prison sentence for one donor.