Politics
Ripple’s $5 million ballroom gift highlights split between company leaders’ political ties
San Francisco-based crypto company Ripple donated $5 million to President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project, part of $330 million in contributions. The donation adds to questions about the company’s political ties as its Democratic-donor chairman and Trump-aligned CEO have taken different paths.
San Francisco-based Ripple Labs donated $5 million to President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom, according to documents reviewed by The Washington Post. The gift was part of a reported $330 million in contributions to the construction project.
The amount had not previously been disclosed, though Ripple’s contribution to the project was already public. The company also gave about $4.9 million to Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
The donation puts a spotlight on differing political profiles among Ripple’s top leaders. Executive Chairman Chris Larsen is a major Democratic donor who has also supported local causes and moderate candidates. CEO Brad Garlinghouse has taken a more Trump-friendly approach, including visiting the White House in August with other cryptocurrency executives.
A spokesperson for Larsen directed questions about the donation, including whether he knew about it, to Ripple’s media department. The company did not respond to a request for comment.
The ballroom project has drawn scrutiny over its cost and private financing. Ripple’s $5 million contribution represents a small share of the reported total, but its scale places the San Francisco firm among major corporate contributors to a high-profile presidential project.