Fact check: How much did Biden spend on his commemorative events

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal limited specific information about Biden's commemorative event spending. The most relevant data comes from Biden's inauguration, where the Biden Inaugural Committee raised $61.8 million for inauguration events, with major contributions from corporations including Pfizer, AT&T, and Bank of America, as well as labor unions like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ^[1]. The inauguration itself was significantly scaled down due to COVID-19 restrictions, with only about 1,000 people permitted to attend compared to the typical 200,000, making it the smallest ceremony since Franklin D. Roosevelt's fourth inauguration in 1945 ^[2].

The remaining sources focus on broader Biden administration spending initiatives rather than commemorative events specifically, including:

• $200.1 million allocated for the National Endowment for the Humanities in the FY 2025 budget ^[3]
• Various infrastructure investments totaling billions of dollars ^{[4] [5] [6]}
• Park Service funding proposals ^[7]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses lack comprehensive data on Biden's total commemorative event spending beyond the inauguration. Key missing information includes:

• Costs for other commemorative events such as state dinners, memorial services, holiday celebrations, or anniversary commemorations
• Comparison data with previous administrations' commemorative spending
• Breakdown of actual expenditures versus funds raised for inaugural events
• Security costs associated with commemorative events, which are typically substantial but often classified

The focus on inaugural fundraising ^[1] presents one perspective but doesn't address whether these private donations covered all costs or if additional taxpayer funds were used. Corporate donors like Pfizer, AT&T, and Bank of America benefit from access and influence gained through such contributions, while labor unions gain political capital and policy influence.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question assumes Biden spent significant amounts on commemorative events but lacks specificity about which events are being referenced. This vague framing could lead to:

• Conflation of different types of spending - mixing privately funded events with taxpayer-funded activities
• Incomplete comparisons without historical context of presidential commemorative spending
• Potential political bias by implying excessive spending without providing baseline comparisons

The question's broad nature makes it difficult to provide accurate verification since "commemorative events" could encompass everything from the inauguration to routine White House ceremonies, each with different funding sources and cost structures.