SoftBank donated $50 million to Trump’s library months before federal data center deal

PolicyAINewsSoftBank donated $50 million to Trump’s library months before federal data center dealSoftBank is leasing federal land to build a sprawling data center in Ohio.SoftBank is leasing federal land to build a sprawling data center in Ohio.by Emma RothAug 6, 2026, 2:30 PM UTCLinkShareGiftThe Portsmouth, Ohio site where SoftBank will build its data center. Image: US Department of EnergyEmma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.SoftBank contributed $50 million to the Trump Presidential Library in January, just months before announcing that it’s leasing land from the federal government to build a sprawling data center in Ohio. The Japanese company revealed the timing in response to a June letter from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), which raised concerns about bribery.“Are we expected to believe it’s a coincidence that two months after Softbank donated $50 million to the Trump library, his administration announced a massive lease deal for Softbank’s data center?” Sen. Warren said in a statement to The Verge. “Again and again, it seems like Trump is putting handshake deals with CEOs over what’s best for Americans.”In March, SoftBank said its SB Energy subsidiary formed a public-private partnership to build “the world’s largest” AI data center at the US Department of Energy’s site in Portsmouth, Ohio. As part of the partnership, SB Energy will build a massive gas-fired powerplant nearby, with a capacity of at least 9.2 gigawatts.As the lawmakers note in their initial letter, SoftBank has made contributions to the presidential libraries of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, but only “after those presidents had left office and after the relevant library foundations and institutions had been established.” With Trump’s presidential library, however, SoftBank donated during Trump’s term and “before any presidential library has been constructed.”Additionally, the organization responsible for taking donations, the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Fund, had been dissolved by the state of Florida last September after failing to file an annual report. SoftBank says in its response that it made its $50 million contribution to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation, Inc.Donald Trump’s son, Eric Trump, is a trustee of the nonprofit, Citizens for Ethics reports. “As with its prior contributions to Presidential libraries, SoftBank understands that this donation will be used to support the construction and operation of the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library,” SoftBank’s letter reads.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Emma RothAINewsPolicyPoliticsMost PopularMost PopularWerewolf transformed my old gadgets into USB-C powered onesWhy does Apple keep banning Telegram, but never X?Trying to explain One Night Only’s tech-enforced sex dystopiaJony Ive’s first OpenAI gadget is reportedly a hockey puck-sized smart speakerFord’s first ultra-cheap EV is called Fathom, a full-featured truck for $28,350The Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native ad