SoftBank donated $50 million to Trump library before Ohio AI deal
Business
SoftBank, a big Japanese tech firm, donated $50 million to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation in January 2026, just two months before landing a federal deal to build a massive AI data center in Ohio.
The timing has lawmakers like Senator Elizabeth Warren wondering if the donation helped smooth the way for the project.
Lawmakers seek answers SoftBank defends donation
Warren and others pointed out that, unlike SoftBank's past donations to other presidential libraries, this one happened while Trump was still president and before his library even existed.
They have asked SoftBank for clear answers on whether the money influenced their federal partnership.
SoftBank responded that all funds will go toward building and running the library, which SoftBank also confirmed.