This is how oligarchy takes root

This is how oligarchy—government of the wealthy and corrupt in which billionaires and their interests are put first—takes root.

Dear MoveOn member,

ABC News just handed Donald Trump $15 million for his "presidential library" and $1 million for legal fees in a shocking surrender.¹

The media giant, which is owned by Disney, caved to Trump's intimidation rather than defend itself against baseless defamation claims about its coverage of his sexual assault case.

And ABC isn't alone. Tech giants like Meta, Amazon, and OpenAI have each now pledged $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund.²

Trump is openly bragging about CEOs "bending the knee" to him.³ And he's assembled a Cabinet of billionaires. Thirteen of Trump's nominees for positions in his administration so far have a combined net worth of $460 billion.⁴

This is how oligarchy—government of the wealthy and corrupt in which billionaires and their interests are put first—takes root. Wealthy elites and corporations decide it's better to appease an authoritarian than stand up for democracy. It's like Putin's Russia or Erdogan's Turkey. We can't let America go down this dark path.

This corruption threatens everything we hold dear—our democracy, our environment, our freedom and civil rights. The ultra-wealthy are positioning themselves to profit while gutting the social safety net and protections for working families.

MoveOn is gearing up to fight back hard against Trump's oligarchy in 2025, but we need your help.

Will you start a $5 monthly donation to help us fight corporate America's surrender to Trump? Remember, these corporations care A LOT about their public image, so we have real power over them—if we come together to use it. But holding them accountable won't happen overnight, which is why we need your ongoing support. 

Yes, I'll chip in monthly.

No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.

Corporate America is already positioning itself to profit from—and help enable—Trump's anti-democratic agenda. More than 100 industry groups just sent him a wish list of regulations to gut, from environmental protections to banking safeguards.⁵

For instance, the industry groups called on Trump to axe two of our strongest financial protection agencies—the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The FDIC has safeguarded our bank deposits since the Great Depression, and the CFPB—the brainchild of Elizabeth Warren—has reined in usurious interest rates, junk fees, and other underhanded costs corporations have hit us with.⁶

Our financial security, our free press, and our environment are all on the chopping block when Trump and his merry band of billionaires take office. Whether they are going to see their oligarchical plans through is up to us.

We have the power to defeat Big Business, Trump, and MAGA, if we stand together and speak out with one voice. Will you start a $5 monthly donation to MoveOn to power and sustain our long-term efforts to face down Trump's oligarchy in 2025 and beyond?

Yes, I'll chip in monthly.

No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.

Together, we are more powerful than the ultra-wealthy elites trying to buy their way into Trump's good graces. But we need to come together, organize, and speak out—for as long as it takes.

Thanks for all you do.

–Nakia, Erik, Amy, Noor, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "'It's Frightening': ABC News Staffers Incensed by 'Capitulation' to Trump," Rolling Stone, December 17, 2024
https://act.moveon.org/go/200925?t=6&akid=418427%2E53570607%2ELp3h6D

2. "Tech moguls Altman, Bezos and Zuckerberg donate to Trump's inauguration fund," NPR, December 13, 2024
https://act.moveon.org/go/200926?t=8&akid=418427%2E53570607%2ELp3h6D

3. "How CEOs of major companies are trying to gain favor with Trump," PBS News, December 16, 2024
https://act.moveon.org/go/200912?t=10&akid=418427%2E53570607%2ELp3h6D

4. "Trump has tapped an unprecedented 13 billionaires for his administration. Here's who they are," ABC News, December 17, 2024
https://act.moveon.org/go/200910?t=12&akid=418427%2E53570607%2ELp3h6D

5. "Manufacturers' Regulatory Letter to President-Elect Trump," National Association of Manufacturers, December 5, 2024
https://act.moveon.org/go/200913?t=14&akid=418427%2E53570607%2ELp3h6D

6. "December 17, 2024," Letters from an American, December 18, 2024
https://act.moveon.org/go/200914?t=16&akid=418427%2E53570607%2ELp3h6D

Want to support MoveOn's work? Donald Trump and his MAGA allies expect us to give up. But we will not give them what they want. We will never stop working to defend our fundamental freedoms and protect our democracy. MoveOn has been leading the movement against right-wing extremism for 26 years, and we promise you that we will still be here every step of the way forward.

Will you donate to power MoveOn's work to protect our freedoms and democracy under Trump's administration?

Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month.

No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.

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