Wealthy Mexican Business Owners Offered 'Influence' and Direct Access to Trump for $250,000 Donation: Report

Wealthy Mexican business owners are reportedly being offered direct access to U.S. President Donald Trump in exchange for a $250,000 donation. The initiative, led by Bienvenido Empresarios, a coalition of Hispanic entrepreneurs in the U.S., is also offering cheaper options in the form of memberships ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 for access to Trump administration officials, as first reported by local outlet Milenio.

According to the Mexican news outlet, Bienvenido Empresarios representatives have visited the Mexican city of Monterrey—one of Latin America's wealthiest cities—to promote the invitation-only opportunity, promising exclusive connections to Trump and his inner circle, as well as to key U.S. policymakers.

An anonymous source familiar with the entrepreneurial scene in Monterrey detailed the process to Milenio: "They come and ask you to join and put in money, $250,000 to partner with them. With that they sell you direct access to the Trump administration."

The source added that Javier Garza Buffington—a Mexican businessman who in January, met privately with Senator Ted Cruz and financed the Official Hispanic Inaugural Ball as part of Trump's inauguration—allegedly joined the group.

A Bienvenido Empresarios brochure obtained by Milenio lists the following membership opportunities for those who cannot pay the $250,000 donation:

• Entrepreneur ($100,000/year) – Members gain access to "calls and meetings with top U.S. policymakers," as well as "international business delegations, the formation of global alliances, and expanded opportunities." They are also recognized as honorary board members of Bienvenido Empresarios and receive all benefits from lower-tier memberships.

• Delegate ($50,000/year) – Members join the organization's president's advisory circle, allowing them to cultivate direct influence and networking opportunities. They also receive a VIP ticket to the exclusive Bienvenido Empresarios Spring Meeting.

• Envoy ($25,000/year) – Members receive an annual report with detailed insights into Hispanic business and electoral trends in the U.S. They also gain access to quarterly briefings on business, industry innovations, and key public policy influencers.

• Ambassador ($15,000/year) – Members take part in the organization's advisory circle and receive exclusive reports and real-time news alerts about key U.S. leaders.

• Visionary ($5,000/year) – Members receive "priority invitations to business events throughout the year" and "media exposure opportunities."

The coalition is reportedly 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). According to Milenio's anonymous source, Cardenas is touting her access to Trump and his team to attract investors.

A quick Google search of the coalition leads to the official Bienvenido 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 website's language is directed at "young entrepreneurs" and emphasizes the importance of bilateral cooperation:

"Empresarios believes that America First doesn't mean America alone. Our coalition advocates for positive bilateral relations between the United States and Mexico. Our delegation trips allow our Business leaders to have a unique experience and understand the importance of bilateral relations."

The coalition's website also features prominent Hispanic entrepreneurs who have been associated with Trump or endorsed him, such as Bob Unuane, GOYA CEO, and Javier Loya, a minority owner of the Houston Texans.

The Latin Times reached out to Bienvenido for comment. Director of Communications Rafael Struve issued the following statement rejecting the existence of the program:

"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."