A recent report from Mexican news outlet Milenio alleged that Bienvenido Empresarios, a U.S. nonprofit with GOP ties, was selling "access" to the Trump administration to wealthy Mexican business leaders. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reacted to the report in her daily morning press conference at the National Palace, warning Mexicans of the questionable nature of these types of schemes.
"Well, in the case of someone paying to see a politician, I don't think it's very advisable, right? Not even for the person who is paying, but well, it is the decision of the United States government," Sheinbaum stated.
According to Milenio, Bienvenido representatives recently visited Monterrey offering direct access to President Donald Trump for a $250,000 donation. The news outlet also obtained a brochure promoting cheaper options in the form of annual memberships running from $100,000 to $5,000 for which members are promised "influence" and exclusive access to meetings with policymakers and briefings.
An anonymous source familiar with the entrepreneurial scene in Monterrey told the Mexican outlet the initiative is led by Betty Cardenas, a Mexican-American conservative activist known for her leadership roles in Latinas for Trump and Bienvenido Action Political Action Committee (PAC).
A quick Google search of Bienvenido Empresarios leads to the official Bienvenido nonprofit website, which lists Cárdenas as an advisor. A subsection within the website is dedicated to the Bienvenido Empresarios initiative. However, neither memberships nor donations promising connections to the Trump administration are publicly available.
The Latin Times contacted Bienvenido to verify their involvement in the alleged pay-to-access scheme. The nonprofit's Communications Director Rafael Struve rejected the allegations via the following written statement:
"Bienvenido Empresarios categorically denies these allegations and defamatory statements. Bienvenido Empresarios remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing economic prosperity in our hemisphere. We look forward to continuing this vital work under President Trump's leadership over the next four years."
After being asked if Bienvenido was doing anything to investigate the allegations or find the people behind them, Struve responded:
"These allegations are fabricated, and we have requested that Milenio issue an immediate correction. No reputable journalist would engage with such misleading content. We have nothing further to add beyond our initial statement."
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
