Donald Trump Donald Trump, the new “owner” of World Wrestling Entertainment’s “Monday Night RAW,” and several WWE Divas appeared for a press conference at the Executive Air Terminal at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport in Ashwaubenon on June 22, 2009. Mpk Wwetrump Metrostate

Another day, another shady story involving former President Donald Trump.

This time it comes courtesy of the Wall Street Journal, which reported Wednesday that WWE’s board uncovered that Vince McMahon gave $5 million to Trump’s charity, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, in 2007 and 2009, without reporting it as a company expense.

The payments coincide with Trump’s appearances on WWE television programs and events, including 2007’s WrestleMania 23 and WWE’s Monday night show “Raw,” in 2009.

The money was part of a staggering $19.6 million in unrecorded company expenses that McMahon should have reported since they benefitted the company he was in charge of. McMahon stepped down as chairman and CEO of WWE last month.

Trump’s infamous 2007 appearance was known as the “Battle of the Billionaires” and, according to a person who has seen Trump’s contract for the event, it stipulated that $4 million be sent to the charity as an appearance fee. There was also a very humourous mention that “Mr. Trump had his associates review the contract to ensure that under no circumstances would Mr. McMahon be allowed to shave his head, even if Mr. Trump’s wrestler dropped dead in the ring.”

After the event, WWE reportedly added another $1 million to the charity payment, though there were conflicting opinions offered on whether or not that was a “bonus” or if that was simply a choice made by McMahon.

The Donald J. Trump Foundation was dissolved in 2018 as part of a settlement with the New York state attorney general’s office, which alleged that Trump misused charity funds on his 2016 presidential campaign, legal settlements, and promotion of his private businesses. Trump admitted to misusing nonprofit funds and was ordered to pay $2 million to charities as part of the 2019 settlement.

The news that Trump was involved in Vince McMahon’s off-the-books schemes while chairman of WWE certainly seemed to garner some strong reactions from the sports world.

[WSJ]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.