Big companies are handing Trump huge sums for his pet projects and personal ventures, and critics say it looks like straight-up bribery for government favors.

• Trump reportedly calls his top fundraiser almost nightly to track who has paid and push donors for more, with asks ranging from $5 million to $50 million.
• Companies like SoftBank, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have poured money into his library, ballroom, and aligned committees — over $800 million since he took office, a record.
• The timing looks transactional: tobacco firms gave and got looser vape rules, and Lockheed gave and landed a Pentagon contract worth up to $35 billion.
• Much of the money is hidden — no law forces disclosure of who gave or where it went.
• Trump also made $1.4 billion through his crypto venture, with unclear sources, raising more bribery concerns.

Outlook: The pay-to-play pattern is expected to continue with little accountability while Trump remains in office.