“I’m not having lunch,” Trump reportedly replied to the businessmen, adding, “You’ve got to make it $25 million.” Dawsey added:
Another businessman, he said, had traditionally given $2 million to $3 million to Republicans. Instead, he said he told the donor that he wanted a $25 million or $50 million contribution or he would not be “very happy.”

As he closed his pitch at the Pierre Hotel, Trump explained to the group why it was in their interest to cut large checks. If he was not put back in office, taxes would go up for them under President Biden, who vows to let Trump-era tax cuts on the wealthy and corporations expire at the end of 2025.

Earlier in May, the Post also reported that Trump huddled with executives from many of the country’s largest oil companies and told them they need to donate $1 billion to his campaign. In exchange for the massive donation, Trump promised to make sure they got whatever environmental regulations that required from the government to maximize their businesses.