I cannot say how much money (of the estimated $45 million price tag), but it looks as if the entire tab was not picked up by outside, corporate interests.
Saturday’s military parade in Washington celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army
was sponsored by at least four brands that have strong financial and political ties to President Trump, raising questions about whether the event benefited his allies and supporters.
Attendees who sought relief from the sweltering heat on the National Mall found free cans of a new energy drink brand sponsored by Dana White, who is the chief executive of
the Ultimate Fighting Championship and one of Mr. Trump’s staunchest allies.
Palantir, the data analysis and technology firm whose contracts with the federal government are expanding, and
Coinbase, a cryptocurrency firm that donated to the president’s inauguration, also sponsored the event.
Oracle, a database company whose co-founder is a close friend of Mr. Trump’s, received a shout-out on Saturday as a sponsor.
U.F.C. was mentioned as a sponsor during the military procession and on the event’s website, but its spokesman said in an email statement that the company was not a corporate sponsor and that Mr. White had supported the program in his personal capacity.
Federal regulations prohibit the use of public office for the private gain of officeholders or their friends, relatives or nongovernmental affiliates, said Richard W. Painter, who served as the chief ethics lawyer in the White House Counsel’s Office under President George W. Bush.
“The parade is being used for advertising by these entities with close business ties to the president,” Mr. Painter said in an interview. “You’re in a situation where the U.S. government has been used to endorse a product.”
If he had been Mr. Trump’s chief ethics lawyer, he added, he would have not wanted the sponsorships at all. Such an arrangement would be acceptable only if the companies were to pay for the entire event, Mr. Painter said, allowing the government to host the celebration without paying any tax dollars. The military parade was estimated to cost up to $45 million.
The White House did not respond to a question about how much Mr. Trump’s allies had paid to advertise their products and services but directed the inquiry to America250, the commission that hosted Saturday’s events. America250 did not immediately respond to requests for comment....