Dell Technologies was awarded a massive $7 billion federal contract, drawing immediate fire from ethics watchdogs who are pointing to founder Michael Dell's previous $6.25 billion financial pledge as a major conflict of interest.
On The Bulwark Podcast, host Tim Miller did not hold back when discussing the cozy relationship, noting that "Michael Dell put the money into the Trump bonds or whatever it is, which is pretty annoying as it is" to secure political favor.
According to Tim Miller, the financial alliance quickly translated into free presidential marketing. During a press conference, Donald Trump openly promoted the computer company, telling the public, "Go buy Dell," while simultaneously purchasing $5 million in Dell stock himself right before the federal government handed the tech giant its multi-billion dollar windfall.
As watchdog groups demand investigations into the timing of the stock purchases and the contract award, Michael Dell and Dell Technologies find themselves at the center of a growing storm over corporate influence and political pay-to-play schemes that is unlikely to blow over anytime soon.