Timothy Mellon Is Donor Who Gave $130M to Pay Troops

Billionaire businessman Timothy Mellon – scion of the famed American banking family – is the deep-pocketed donor who gave $130 million to pay US troops during the government shutdown.

The reclusive Mellon was identified as the source of the funds in a Saturday report by The New York Times.

President Trump announced this week that “a friend” who “loves the military and loves the country” – but who didn’t want to be identified – had given the funds.

Trump referenced the contribution en route to Asia Friday night, calling the request for anonymity “pretty unusual in the world I come from,” calling the donor a “great gentleman” and a “great patriot.”

Mellon, 83, is the grandson of industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Mellon. The family is believed to be worth $14 billion, according to Forbes.

A day after Trump’s 2024 conviction for fraud in New York, Mellon donated a stunning $50 million to the pro-Trump super PAC Make America Great Again.

He lives in Wyoming, where he has kept a low profile.

Andrew Mellon, who served as the nation’s Treasury Secretary from 1921 to 1932, amassed a fortune in the years leading up to the Great Depression, and ultimately made significant philanthropic contributions to the National Gallery of Art and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

The Pentagon accepted his grandson’s donation, but might not be able to use the funds: the Antideficiency Act bars agencies from spending money that has not been appropriated by Congress during a shutdown.

“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.

The Senate on Thursday voted down an effort to pay active duty members of the military, 54-45.

Trump tried earlier this month to make sure troops were paid during the weeks-long federal shutdown.

“I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th,” Trump posted on his Truth Social site.

The Pentagon identified the source as leftover research and development funds.

But questions have been raised as to whether that move overrode Congress’ authority under the Constitution to direct spending for explicit purposes.