According to a report released this weekend by The New York Times, the anonymous benefactor who gave $130 million to help pay U.S. troops during the shutdown has been identified.
President Trump announced the donation Thursday night, calling the donor a “patriot” and a friend but declining to name him publicly. Then, when speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump again withheld the identity, describing the donor only as “a great American citizen” and a “substantial man.”
“He doesn’t want publicity,” Trump said as he headed to Malaysia. “He prefer that his name not be mentioned which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned.”
However, despite the discretion, the identity of the donor apparently points to Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and major Trump donor. He is also the grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon.
Mellon, a wealthy banking heir and railroad magnate, has been one of President Trump’s most generous backers, contributing tens of millions to groups supporting his campaigns. Last year, he gave $50 million to a pro-Trump super PAC — one of the largest single political donations ever reported. He emerged as a major Republican donor only after Trump’s rise, investing hundreds of millions in support of the president and the GOP.
Mellon, who resides mainly in Wyoming, maintains a low profile despite his extensive political donations. In addition to backing President Trump, he has been a major supporter of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., contributing millions to Kennedy’s presidential campaign and his anti-vaccine organization, Children’s Health Defense.
The Pentagon said it accepted the $130 million donation under its “general gift acceptance authority,” though it may violate the Antideficiency Act, which bars spending beyond congressional approval. It’s unclear how far the funds will stretch for the 1.3 million active-duty troops; with a $600 billion annual payroll, the donation amounts to roughly $100 per service member.
“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, said in a statement.
Breaking News: Timothy Mellon, a banking heir, is said to be the anonymous donor who gave $130 million to the U.S. government to help pay troops during the shutdown. https://t.co/eLAKC5nJv4
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 25, 2025
