• Ripple’s role: The blockchain company is a client of Ballard Partners and the Priebus-affiliated firm, highlighting crypto sector ties to lobbying networks.

• Donor concentration: Two-thirds of contributions come from clients of just three lobbyist firms, including tech giants and defense contractors.

• Congressional scrutiny: Senator Richard Blumenthal’s investigations have prompted responses from over 40 entities, though disclosure remains limited amid anonymity options.

Discover how Ripple and tech leaders fund the White House Ballroom Project amid lobbying ties. Uncover transparency issues and implications for crypto regulation—read now for key insights.

What is the White House Ballroom Project and Its Fundraising Network?

The White House Ballroom Project aims to construct a 90,000-square-foot ballroom to expand event hosting capabilities at the White House. Fundraising for this initiative has drawn major technology and defense firms, including Ripple, through connections to prominent Washington lobbyists. A Public Citizen report details how these ties concentrate donor influence, with channels like the Trust for the National Mall facilitating contributions despite claims of non-involvement.

How Are Lobbyists Driving the White House Ballroom Project Donations?

The lobbying network at the center of the White House Ballroom Project fundraising includes three key figures: Brian Ballard of Ballard Partners, Jeff Miller, and Reince Priebus, whose affiliated firm represents significant corporate clients. According to the Public Citizen analysis, these firms account for approximately two-thirds of the identified corporate donors, totaling millions in potential contributions. This concentration underscores the role of lobbyists in channeling funds from sectors like technology, defense, and energy.

Ripple, a leading blockchain and cryptocurrency firm, stands out as a client of both Ballard Partners and the Priebus firm. Other notable donors include Palantir, T-Mobile, Lockheed Martin, and NextEra Energy—companies with substantial federal contracts or regulatory interactions. For instance, Palantir and Lockheed Martin have benefited from paused enforcement actions under the current administration, raising questions about the motivations behind their support.

Donations flow through the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit typically focused on monument preservation. However, the Trust has stated to Congress that it is neither soliciting funds nor planning the ballroom, creating ambiguity around the solicitation process. Reports from congressional inquiries indicate that outreach to companies like Microsoft and Amazon occurred in late summer, with executives attending White House events shortly after. Nvidia, another respondent, requested advance notice of any public disclosures regarding its involvement, highlighting donor concerns over visibility.

Expert analysis from Public Citizen emphasizes the risks of such opaque networks. “These lobbying connections illustrate how corporate interests can intersect with high-level government projects, potentially influencing policy outcomes,” noted a report author in a statement to media outlets. This structure allows for anonymity in contributions, complicating oversight and public accountability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Role Does Ripple Play in the White House Ballroom Project Fundraising?

Ripple, known for its XRP Ledger and cross-border payment solutions, is linked to the fundraising through its relationships with Ballard Partners and the Priebus-affiliated lobbying firm. As a client, Ripple’s involvement aligns with broader crypto industry efforts to engage Washington influencers, though specific donation amounts remain undisclosed in congressional responses.

Why Is Congressional Scrutiny Focused on the White House Ballroom Project Donors?

Congress, led by Senator Richard Blumenthal and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, is examining the project’s donors to address transparency gaps. Inquiries to over 40 entities, including Ripple, Amazon, Apple, Coinbase, and Microsoft, seek details on contribution amounts and anonymity provisions. This stems from concerns over lobbyist influence and potential conflicts with federal regulations, ensuring public funds and projects maintain integrity.

Key Takeaways

• Lobbyist Dominance: Firms led by Ballard, Miller, and Priebus control two-thirds of donors, including Ripple and tech giants, centralizing influence in the White House Ballroom Project.
• Transparency Challenges: The Trust for the National Mall’s role raises questions, as donors like Nvidia seek confidentiality amid limited disclosures.
• Policy Implications: Blumenthal’s proposed bill aims to curb lobbyist fundraising at presidential sites, urging companies to prioritize ethical engagement for future crypto and tech regulations.

Conclusion

The White House Ballroom Project fundraising network reveals deep ties between Ripple, major technology firms like Amazon and Microsoft, and influential lobbyists such as Brian Ballard and Reince Priebus. As detailed in the Public Citizen report, this concentration of donors from crypto, defense, and energy sectors highlights ongoing concerns about transparency in government-linked initiatives. Congressional efforts, including Senator Blumenthal’s inquiries and legislative proposals, signal a push for greater disclosure to prevent undue influence. Looking ahead, stakeholders in the cryptocurrency space should monitor these developments closely, as they could shape regulatory landscapes and ethical standards for corporate political engagement in the coming years.

Major technology and defense firms, including Ripple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple, are linked to a fundraising network for the White House Ballroom Project that is interconnected with major Washington lobbyist firms.

The review identifies three prominent lobbyists, Brian Ballard, Jeff Miller, and Reince Priebus, whose firms account for two-thirds of the corporate donors identified so far. Those firms include Ballard Partners and the Priebus-affiliated firm, both of which count Ripple among their clients.

A new Public Citizen report finds that three powerful Washington lobbyists Brian Ballard, Jeff Miller, and Reince Priebus are deeply tied to the fundraising for the Trump White House Ballroom Project. Their firms represent two thirds of all corporate donors identified so far,…

— BankXRP (@BankXRP) November 20, 2025

Lobbyist network and donor concentration

The report discloses that the three lobbyist firms form a core network driving fundraising for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom project. About two-thirds of the donations identified so far come from clients of these firms. Among them are technology companies, defense contractors, and energy firms.

For example, the same donor list includes Palantir, T-Mobile, Lockheed Martin, and NextEra Energy, many of whom have had federal contracts or enforcement actions paused under the current administration.

Donations for the project are channeled through the Trust for the National Mall, which also serves as the fundraising channel for the ballroom project. However, the Trust has informed Congress it is not soliciting donations for the ballroom and is not involved in planning the facility, leaving unanswered questions about who is soliciting contributions and managing the fundraising process.

Reports indicate that Microsoft and Amazon received outreach from fundraisers in late summer. Microsoft’s executives attended a dinner in the White House’s East Room on October 15, following an invitation to a donation event. Amazon also engaged through its public policy team. Nvidia stated to congressional staff that it asked the Trust to notify it before any public disclosure of its involvement.

Congressional inquiries and disclosure concerns

Senator Richard Blumenthal and other members of the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations have sent at least nine letters to more than 40 companies, foundations, and individuals involved in the ballroom project.

Some of the respondents include Amazon, Apple, Ripple, Coinbase, Comcast, Google, HP, Meta, Micron Technology, Microsoft, and T-Mobile. Sixteen organizations responded, all of which gave no particular contribution amounts. The questions are based on the availability of anonymity options to donors and their amounts, with most companies referring to either corporate participation or federal regulations, but providing limited, definitive information.

Blumenthal also co-sponsored a bill to prohibit lobbyists from fundraising at presidential properties and to require the disclosure of relationships between fundraising and federal officials, as well as the transparency of contributions. The bill is facing stiff opposition in a Congress dominated by Republicans, with the White House declining to comment on the legislation.

In one of the visits to the White House Oval Office, President Donald Trump wrote that the new, bigger ballroom would allow hosting more guests during official events and dinners, mentioning the lack of space at the available facilities. The congressional staff is still reviewing documentation and can take additional steps should voluntary responses be insufficient.