Tonight, while Donald Trump’s government shutdown marks its 17th day, Trump’s super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., is hosting a $1 million per plate “candlelight dinner” fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago mansion. New reporting reveals that at least 30 individuals or companies that have collectively donated more than $116 million to Trump and his causes have received favors from the White House — and tonight, top donors will pay top dollar for more access. Instead of being in D.C. to reopen the government, Trump is dining with billionaires as a massive health care crisis looms that will double health care premiums for 22 million Americans. The message couldn’t be clearer: Trump is putting himself and his wealthy donors first and the American people last. 

In response, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer issued the following statement:

“At this point, the Trump administration’s corruption is on full display. Donald Trump is hosting million-dollar dinners in gold-plated ballrooms while the government remains shut down and a health care crisis looms. It’s no wonder most Americans blame Trump and Republicans for this government shutdown: They are skipping town and throwing million-dollar fundraisers to fill their campaign coffers. Trump’s brazen carelessness and corruption are an offense to the millions of working families who are already bearing the brunt of rising costs and disappearing jobs, and are now bracing themselves for skyrocketing health care premiums if Republicans get their way.”

Trump and his family have profited billions of dollars since he first entered the White House. While Trump and his inner circle rake in the cash, the government remains shut down, and working families are paying the price for his disastrous agenda. Trump’s billionaire-first budget bill made the largest cuts to health care and SNAP in history, and now Americans are bracing for skyrocketing health care premiums if Republicans refuse to extend the ACA tax credits. Trump’s budget slashed health care and food assistance for working families to give massive tax handouts to the ultrarich — which cost more than 10 times as much as it would to extend the ACA tax credits. While Trump uses the government as his personal ATM machine to enrich himself and his wealthy donors, working families are getting thrown under the bus.