SoftBank's $50 million Trump library gift precedes Ohio data-center lease
SoftBank disclosed a $50 million donation to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library made months before it secured a federal land lease for a large data center in Ohio, prompting a congressional inquiry.
SoftBank confirmed that it donated $50 million to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation, Inc. in January, a contribution that came shortly before the firm announced a lease of federal land for a sprawling AI data center in Portsmouth, Ohio. The data-center project, undertaken by SoftBank’s SB Energy subsidiary, involves a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and includes construction of a gas-fired power plant with a capacity of at least 9.2 gigawatts.
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal, together with Representative Melanie Stansbury, wrote to the company in June, raising concerns about possible bribery and asking whether the donation influenced the lease. They highlighted that SoftBank’s earlier donations to the Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush libraries were made after those presidents left office, whereas the Trump donation occurred while he was still in office and before any library structure existed.
Additionally, the Trump library fund had been dissolved by the state of Florida after failing to file required reports. SoftBank’s response emphasized that the contribution was intended to support the construction and operation of the Trump library and noted that Eric Trump serves as a trustee of the nonprofit.
Why it matters
The timing raises questions about corporate influence on federal leasing decisions and potential conflicts of interest.
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