Donald Trump, previously ostracized in Washington, is now celebrated by a new coalition
Over thirty lavish balls and similar events showcase the expanding reach of the MAGA coalition.
TroibNews 
As President-elect Donald Trump returns to Washington, he is being celebrated by various groups, including crypto enthusiasts, a far-right publishing house, and supporters of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s "Make America Healthy Again" initiative.
In the lead-up to the inauguration, more than three dozen balls and other lavish events have been arranged. These gatherings feature extensive lists of corporate sponsors and high-profile CEOs who are now eager to show their loyalty to the president-elect, in contrast to their more cautious approach during his first inauguration, when they feared that his anti-immigrant sentiments and past scandals could negatively impact their brands.
This shift reflects the expansion of the MAGA coalition and suggests that the upcoming disputes within Trump's inner circle, as new factions vie for influence, could become quite intense.
Some inaugural balls—historically the domain of Washington's elite—are being hosted by organizations that were on the fringe of the Republican Party just eight years prior. These include Turning Point Action, led by conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and Passage Publishing, a far-right publisher.
“There’s a much wider nexus of groups, celebrities and media personalities that want to be a part of this celebration,” Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point, remarked. “In 2016, the world still wasn’t quite sure what to make of President Trump. 2024 represents a much broader embrace and enthusiasm that Trumpism and the movement he sparked has won, not just politically but culturally and ideologically.”
Critics have condemned Passage Publishing for promoting nativist ideologies that lean toward authoritarianism, referencing a recent HuffPo article that called the name of one event, “the 2025 Coronation Ball,” an illustration of the gathering's “authoritarian nature.”
Jack Posobiec, a prominent MAGA podcaster and event organizer, views this development as a point of pride. He characterized the event as a “spiritual successor” to the 2017 DeploraBall, which he helped coordinate.
“Before we were the outsiders looking in, and now we’re walking in the front door,” Posobiec said. “Because this is a regime change.”
New events like the Crypto Ball and the MAHA Inaugural Ball illustrate the diverse interests that Trump has united into a successful coalition. The notion of a MAHA ball would have been unfathomable just months ago when Kennedy, the former Democrat-turned-independent and a leading figure in the “medical freedom movement,” withdrew from the race to endorse Trump.
With Kennedy likely to join the Trump administration as Health and Human Services secretary, those who align with his views on vaccines will gain unprecedented leverage to alter American health care policy, potentially instituting stricter regulations on pharmaceutical companies and modifying food and agriculture practices.
“This is not just an event — it’s a moment to convene the champions of the MAHA vision, reflect on decades of hard work, and witness the culmination of a movement that will continue to shape America’s future,” commented Emma Post, a spokesperson for MAHA Action, the organization hosting the ball.
Notable expected attendees include Mehmet Oz, nominee for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Marty Makary, FDA commissioner pick, and other MAHA movement leaders like Del Bigtree, CEO of MAHA Action, and food activist Vani Hari.
However, these events also indicate emerging tensions. The broader Republican Party does not uniformly endorse the MAHA agenda, and conflict may arise between free traders and protectionists, immigration hardliners and advocates for more moderate reform, and isolationists versus expansionists.
The sponsorship of many events underscores what corporations are now privately acknowledging: they need Trump to align with them if they hope to achieve their legislative goals over the next four years. For instance, as TikTok navigates uncertain legal waters with the Supreme Court, it is sponsoring the “Power 30 Awards,” designed to "honor the most impactful influencers of the 2024 election," according to promotional materials shared with PMG.
BTC Inc., which promotes Bitcoin, is collaborating with Stand With Crypto, a Coinbase-backed advocacy group, to host the inaugural Crypto Ball. With the cryptocurrency industry poised for increased influence in Washington, the Trump administration is expected to be the most pro-crypto in history, potentially initiating numerous industry-friendly policies.
Corporate support extends to other events, with Johnson & Johnson and Pepsico backing the Hispanic Inaugural Ball, and many companies, including Amazon, AT&T, Bank of America, and others, contributing millions to Trump’s inaugural fund. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, has also made a personal donation of $1 million.
The transformation in corporate America’s willingness to embrace a man they once viewed as crude or worse is striking.
“If Trump 1.0 led to ‘the resistance,’” Kolvet observed, “Trump 2.0 has led to ‘the acquiescence.’”
These events also reflect the Republican Party's growing appeal to non-white voters, further underscored by the Trump campaign’s efforts to attract Black and Latino voters, particularly men. Although Vice President Kamala Harris won nationally among Latino voters, Trump saw a 14-point increase in his support within this demographic compared to the 2020 election, as per CNN exit polls.
Organizers of the upcoming Hispanic Inaugural Ball, taking place the Saturday before inauguration at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, are experiencing a surge of interest that has resulted in nearly three times the number of RSVPs compared to a similar event eight years ago, which had 500 attendees.
The event boasts the longest list of Trump’s Cabinet nominees as honorary chairs of any inaugural ball, including Kennedy, Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem, Labor nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Director of National Intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard, and Transportation nominee Sean Duffy.
“This is the moment for Hispanics,” stated Abraham Enriquez, founder and president of Bienvenido US, the organization hosting the ball. “President Trump is returning to the White House because of the hands of Hispanic voters. This ball is to celebrate that Hispanics are no longer seen as the dormant sleeping giants.”
In a similar vein, the Black Conservative Federation is hosting a Legacy of Freedom Ball, which has intentionally targeted Black men during the campaign in key states. The focus has been on economic issues, parental rights in education, and other traditional conservative policies.
“New and established coalitions are reshaping the electoral map,” stated Necho Carroll, vice president of the organization.
If you're interested in more insights like this, consider subscribing to PMG’s West Wing Playbook newsletter.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
In the lead-up to the inauguration, more than three dozen balls and other lavish events have been arranged. These gatherings feature extensive lists of corporate sponsors and high-profile CEOs who are now eager to show their loyalty to the president-elect, in contrast to their more cautious approach during his first inauguration, when they feared that his anti-immigrant sentiments and past scandals could negatively impact their brands.
This shift reflects the expansion of the MAGA coalition and suggests that the upcoming disputes within Trump's inner circle, as new factions vie for influence, could become quite intense.
Some inaugural balls—historically the domain of Washington's elite—are being hosted by organizations that were on the fringe of the Republican Party just eight years prior. These include Turning Point Action, led by conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and Passage Publishing, a far-right publisher.
“There’s a much wider nexus of groups, celebrities and media personalities that want to be a part of this celebration,” Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point, remarked. “In 2016, the world still wasn’t quite sure what to make of President Trump. 2024 represents a much broader embrace and enthusiasm that Trumpism and the movement he sparked has won, not just politically but culturally and ideologically.”
Critics have condemned Passage Publishing for promoting nativist ideologies that lean toward authoritarianism, referencing a recent HuffPo article that called the name of one event, “the 2025 Coronation Ball,” an illustration of the gathering's “authoritarian nature.”
Jack Posobiec, a prominent MAGA podcaster and event organizer, views this development as a point of pride. He characterized the event as a “spiritual successor” to the 2017 DeploraBall, which he helped coordinate.
“Before we were the outsiders looking in, and now we’re walking in the front door,” Posobiec said. “Because this is a regime change.”
New events like the Crypto Ball and the MAHA Inaugural Ball illustrate the diverse interests that Trump has united into a successful coalition. The notion of a MAHA ball would have been unfathomable just months ago when Kennedy, the former Democrat-turned-independent and a leading figure in the “medical freedom movement,” withdrew from the race to endorse Trump.
With Kennedy likely to join the Trump administration as Health and Human Services secretary, those who align with his views on vaccines will gain unprecedented leverage to alter American health care policy, potentially instituting stricter regulations on pharmaceutical companies and modifying food and agriculture practices.
“This is not just an event — it’s a moment to convene the champions of the MAHA vision, reflect on decades of hard work, and witness the culmination of a movement that will continue to shape America’s future,” commented Emma Post, a spokesperson for MAHA Action, the organization hosting the ball.
Notable expected attendees include Mehmet Oz, nominee for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Marty Makary, FDA commissioner pick, and other MAHA movement leaders like Del Bigtree, CEO of MAHA Action, and food activist Vani Hari.
However, these events also indicate emerging tensions. The broader Republican Party does not uniformly endorse the MAHA agenda, and conflict may arise between free traders and protectionists, immigration hardliners and advocates for more moderate reform, and isolationists versus expansionists.
The sponsorship of many events underscores what corporations are now privately acknowledging: they need Trump to align with them if they hope to achieve their legislative goals over the next four years. For instance, as TikTok navigates uncertain legal waters with the Supreme Court, it is sponsoring the “Power 30 Awards,” designed to "honor the most impactful influencers of the 2024 election," according to promotional materials shared with PMG.
BTC Inc., which promotes Bitcoin, is collaborating with Stand With Crypto, a Coinbase-backed advocacy group, to host the inaugural Crypto Ball. With the cryptocurrency industry poised for increased influence in Washington, the Trump administration is expected to be the most pro-crypto in history, potentially initiating numerous industry-friendly policies.
Corporate support extends to other events, with Johnson & Johnson and Pepsico backing the Hispanic Inaugural Ball, and many companies, including Amazon, AT&T, Bank of America, and others, contributing millions to Trump’s inaugural fund. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, has also made a personal donation of $1 million.
The transformation in corporate America’s willingness to embrace a man they once viewed as crude or worse is striking.
“If Trump 1.0 led to ‘the resistance,’” Kolvet observed, “Trump 2.0 has led to ‘the acquiescence.’”
These events also reflect the Republican Party's growing appeal to non-white voters, further underscored by the Trump campaign’s efforts to attract Black and Latino voters, particularly men. Although Vice President Kamala Harris won nationally among Latino voters, Trump saw a 14-point increase in his support within this demographic compared to the 2020 election, as per CNN exit polls.
Organizers of the upcoming Hispanic Inaugural Ball, taking place the Saturday before inauguration at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, are experiencing a surge of interest that has resulted in nearly three times the number of RSVPs compared to a similar event eight years ago, which had 500 attendees.
The event boasts the longest list of Trump’s Cabinet nominees as honorary chairs of any inaugural ball, including Kennedy, Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem, Labor nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Director of National Intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard, and Transportation nominee Sean Duffy.
“This is the moment for Hispanics,” stated Abraham Enriquez, founder and president of Bienvenido US, the organization hosting the ball. “President Trump is returning to the White House because of the hands of Hispanic voters. This ball is to celebrate that Hispanics are no longer seen as the dormant sleeping giants.”
In a similar vein, the Black Conservative Federation is hosting a Legacy of Freedom Ball, which has intentionally targeted Black men during the campaign in key states. The focus has been on economic issues, parental rights in education, and other traditional conservative policies.
“New and established coalitions are reshaping the electoral map,” stated Necho Carroll, vice president of the organization.
If you're interested in more insights like this, consider subscribing to PMG’s West Wing Playbook newsletter.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
