--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I turned down five million dollars from a…" description: "\"I turned down five million dollars from a lobbyist who wanted to put up $5m for my campaign, a very strong lobbyist. I said, I don't want your money.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/donald-trump-18_campaigns_i-turned-down-five-million-dollars-from_3033457.jpg" --- # I turned down five million dollars from a lobbyist who… ![“I turned down five million dollars from a lobbyist who wanted to put up $5m for my campaign, a very strong lobbyist. I said, I don't want your money.” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/donald-trump-18_campaigns_i-turned-down-five-million-dollars-from_3033457.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/donald-trump-18_campaigns_i-turned-down-five-million-dollars-from_3033457.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/donald-trump-18_campaigns_i-turned-down-five-million-dollars-from_3033457.jpg) > “I turned down five million dollars from a lobbyist who wanted to put up $5m for my campaign, a very strong lobbyist. I said, I don't want your money.” [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker rejected a large political donation to avoid perceived influence from a powerful lobbyist. **In simple terms:** He refused money to stay independent. Key Takeaway Reject money that could compromise integrity. Themes integrity politics influence ethics Mood defensive determined Type political ethical When to use this quote - political campaign - donor negotiations - public office - ethical decision making Key Concepts conflict of interest campaign finance Questions to Reflect On - How would you handle similar offers? - What safeguards ensure independence? A Different Perspective Money may still affect perception even if refused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Dollars Lobbyist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars-lobbyist-4967009/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Lobbyist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lobbyist/) [Lobbyist Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lobbyist-said-4967011/) [Lobbyist Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lobbyist-wanted-4967010/) [Lobbyists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lobbyists/) [Million dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-dollars/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Turned down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-down/) [Very strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-strong/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted 5M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-5m-4967012/) ## Related quotes > [OPEC has got a monopoly. If you try and get a lobbyist in Washington to go against OPEC, they'll say, 'Oh, this is great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/opec-has-got-a-monopoly-if-you-try-and-get-a-lobbyist-in-washington/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [When I tell somebody to do something I'm not going to get a lobbyist calling me the next day to say please don't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/when-i-tell-somebody-to-do-something-i-m-not-going-to-get-a-lobbyist/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ Here's a guy \[Marco Rubio\] - here's a guy that buys a house for $179,000, he sells it to a lobbyist who's probably here… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/here-s-a-guy-marco-rubio-here-s-a-guy-that-buys-a-house-for-179-000/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I think politicians in America don't speak up because their local lobbyist has them shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-think-politicians-in-america-don-t-speak-up-because-their-local/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Having been a lobbyist myself you can't overstate how easy it is to get things done your way. 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The guy who gets elected or the lady who gets elected president of the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-barbour/i-m-a-lobbyist-and-had-a-career-lobbying-the-guy-who-gets-elected-or/) [Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-barbour/) > [Alexi Giannoulias' top aide was a longtime BP lobbyist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kirk/alexi-giannoulias-top-aide-was-a-longtime-bp-lobbyist/) [Mark Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kirk/) > [The current FCC chairman, Tom Wheeler, is highly regarded, but some distrust him because he is the former head lobbyist of both the cable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/the-current-fcc-chairman-tom-wheeler-is-highly-regarded-but-some/) [Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/) > [Until we actually get legislation that protects our rights online, we will continue to fight against stupid, lobbyist-bought legislation. We want bills that protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/until-we-actually-get-legislation-that-protects-our-rights-online-we/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [ I don't take a dime of their \[lobbyist\] money, and when I am president, they won't find a job in my White House. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-don-t-take-a-dime-of-their-lobbyist-money-and-when-i-am-president/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Pick a leader who will keep jobs in your country by offering companies incentives to hire only within their borders, not one who allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/pick-a-leader-who-will-keep-jobs-in-your-country-by-offering/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) ## More by Donald Trump > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Change your attitude and gain some altitude. 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"Obama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-know-we-can-t-beat-isis-we-can-t-do-anything-we-can-t-take-care/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I have my own opinions; you can have your own opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-have-my-own-opinions-you-can-have-your-own-opinions/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ David Cameron was wrong on this \[Brexit\]. He didn't get the mood of his country right. He was very surprised to see what happened. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/david-cameron-was-wrong-on-this-brexit-he-didn-t-get-the-mood-of-his/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The interesting thing is that everyone in golf is just nice. 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