Marvel CEO's $1M donation to #Trump4Vets prompts reaction
Forbes reports 1% of Trump Foundation's donations go to veterans
Republican presidential candidateDonald Trump announced at a fundraiser Thursday night that Marvel Entertainment CEOIkePerlmutter would donate $1 million US to his charitable foundation, and comic book fans took to Twitter in reaction.
Trump held what his team called a"special event to benefit veterans' organizations" at Drake University in Iowa, near where the rest of the Republican front-runners held a debate hosted by Fox News.
Trump had boycotted the debate as a result of his escalating feud with the news channel.
In announcing the donation, Trump called Perlmutter,"one of the great, great men of our country in terms of business and talent."
A representative for Perlumttersaid,"The Perlmutters are thrilled to support their friend Donald Trump in his efforts to help veterans," reported The Hollywood Reporter.
The New York Times reported that Perlmutter's wife, Laura, donated $2 million to Marco Rubio's campaign.
On Twitter, reaction to the announcement came quickly. The donation had its detractors, like filmmaker Michael Moore.
Trump announces head of Marvel Comics has written a million-dollar check for tonight's event. Will think about that next time I buy a ticket
—@MMFlint
Marvel CEO Supports #Trump Campaign Event as #Marvel Editor Discourages Criticism https://t.co/hAidhNrMNL pic.twitter.com/5l4Mk2OTKK
—@TheOuthousers
Oh, Marvel. Bad move. You could have given it to them w/o Trump. Stop playing. Nope. Nope. https://t.co/paFDpdv0Bv
—@StilettoRoyalty
But Trump supporters applauded the donation
Isaac Perlmutter, CEO of Marvel Entertainment donated $1,000,000 to Trump's Vet Event pic.twitter.com/SaJGENRs1E
—@MargaretsBelly
Still more reaction came Friday morning
So Marvel comics is on a big diversity push but their CEO just gave a million dollars to Trump.........................
—@peridotmatrix
The comics are all "hey here's diverse characters and some political commentary" but the CEO supports the mass deportation candidate?!
—@peridotmatrix
So Marvel's CEO donates a million to Trump. Tell me again how there's no money in comics.
—@Blackmudpuppy
Why is the CEO of Marvel supporting a super-villain?
—@docfreeride
The CEO of Marvel just gave Trump a million dollars. Excuse me while I go burn everything I own of theirs.
—@aurosan
You wonder why @Marvel is bad with representation? Their CEO donated a million to Trump. End of story. Resign.
—@petercoffin
As a Mexican American whose parents immigrated to the US from Mexico, I am very hurt to see Marvel's CEO donate $1,000,000 to Trump.
—@iglvzx
Jordan White, a writer for Marvel, replied to Michael Moore's tweet saying that a Marvel boycott would jeopardize the livelihoods of a lot of people
@MMFlint Awww, that's not fair. A lot of people work for Marvel.
—@cracksh0t
@Thesixler Not buying a movie ticket because a CEO donated money to a veterans charity is not "heroic", it's pointless.
—@cracksh0t
Supporters of Trump correctly pointed out thatPerlmutter's donation was to the Donald Trump for Veterans cause, not to Trump's campaign
Leave it to liberals + #Trump haters to be upset because @Marvel CEO donated $1M to #Trump4Vets. I guess we know who supports our #vets.
—@Fit_Magnolia
However, the websitedonaldtrumpforvets.com, set up for the event, accepts donations not to a veterans' charity but to theDonald J.Trump Foundation, Trump's personal non-profit organization
A report in Forbes magazine in December found that about 1% of the foundation's contributions were to organizations that directly benefit military veterans.
The Donald J. Trump foundation donated $57K to veterans' organizations between 2009 & 2013, according to tax forms https://t.co/0JtOOsL8ER
—@Forbes