Trump backer Timothy Mellon identified as donor of $130m for US troop pay during government shutdown

By Nina Lakhani · The Guardian World

Reclusive Republican billionaire is descendant of gilded age industrialist and former treasury secretary Andrew Mellon A reclusive billionaire, anti-tax crusader and major financial backer of Donald Trump has been named as the anonymous private donor who gave $130m to the government to help pay US troops during the federal shutdown that is now in its fourth week, according to the New York Times . Timothy Mellon, heir to the gilded age industrialist and former treasury secretary Andrew Mellon, is the secret donor whom Trump has described as a “friend”, “great American” and “patriot”, but has refused to name, the Times reported on Saturday, citing two anonymous sources familiar with the arrangement. Continue reading...