Another American-based big-leaguer is kicking in cash to incoming President-elect Donald Trump‘s January inaugural fund.
Ford Motor Company, headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., will donate $1 million as well as a fleet of vehicles for the festivities, a spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Monday.
Earlier this month, Ford CEO Jim Farley told reporters his leadership team is carefully watching for policy changes in Washington but isn’t panicked about Trump returns to the presidency, The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network reported.
It was not immediately known what vehicles Ford plans to donate to the Jan. 20 inauguration at the United States Capitol.
But during a press event at Michigan Central Station in Detroit, Farley said Ford expects changes in tariffs, emissions regulations and tax benefits for people who buy electric vehicles.
“After 120 years, we’re pretty experienced with policy change,” Farley said, adding nearly 14% of Ford’s November sales in the U.S. were hybrid or electric vehicles. “I think Ford is very well-positioned.”
During past visits to Michigan, Trump has met with the company’s executive chair Bill Ford Jr.
Ford CEO Farley:Automaker is well-positioned for whatever policy changes Trump brings
Almost one out of five vehicles in Ford’s lineup globally is now a hybrid or electric vehicle, Farley said earlier this month.
“What I’m excited about is working with the administration to make sure that we’re rewarded for our commitment to America and Michigan,” he said. “Ford’s employment profile and importance in the U.S. economy and manufacturing, you can imagine the administration will be very interested in Ford’s point of view.”
Other companies including Jeff Bezos’ Amazon and social media giant Meta, the owner or Facebook and Instagram, have donated millions to Trump’s inauguration.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg donated $1 million, USA TODAY reported earlier this month. Zuckerburg has sought to repair his relationship with the incoming president and other Republican leaders over the last few months after he received backfire nearly four years ago for banning the former president on Meta’s platforms following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Billionaire Bezos said he would also give $1 million, according to multiple reports.
It was not immediately known how much Trump has raised for his upcoming inauguration, but Reuters reported he raised a record $106.7 million for his 2017 launch while President Joe Biden raised more than $61 billion for his 2021 inauguration fund.
Contributing: Reuters, USA TODAY reporter Karissa Waddick and Phoebe Wall Howard, special to the Detroit Free Press
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
