Trump says private donor gave $130 million to cover military pay during shutdown

FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump gestures after speaking during a meeting of senior military leaders convened by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, US, Sept 30, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a wealthy private donor has provided $130 million to the US government to cover potential shortfalls in military salaries caused by the ongoing government shutdown.

Speaking at a White House event, Trump praised the wealthy donor as a patriot and a “friend of mine," but declined to name him.

“He called us the other day and said, 'I'd like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown… because I love the military and I love the country,'” Trump said.

The administration faces mounting pressure to ensure active-duty service members receive their paycheques despite the budget impasse. Trump previously signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to repurpose unused research funds to cover salaries.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has called the military funding shift a temporary fix and warned that troops could soon miss their paycheques if Congress fails to pass a budget resolution.

The US federal government has been partially shut down since October 1 as lawmakers in Congress remain deadlocked over a new budget, with disputes over healthcare subsidies at the centre of the impasse.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.