A Unification Church-affiliated group, also known as “The Moonies,” paid President Donald Trump $2.5 million for three video appearances between 2021 and 2022, according to U.S. financial records.
These payments raise questions about foreign religious groups influencing U.S. politicians, especially amid ongoing scrutiny of political transparency and potential ties to controversial organizations like the Unification Church aka “The Moonies.”
The Universal Peace Federation (UPF), linked to the Unification Church, compensated Trump for brief video messages at their events, as revealed in official U.S. disclosures.
- Trump’s reports show $500,000 for a September 2021 online event, $1 million for a February 2022 summit, and another $1 million for a July 2022 appearance.
- Former Vice President Mike Pence received $550,000 for speaking at the 2022 UPF World Summit in Seoul.
- The payments total about $90,000 per minute for Trump’s roughly 28 minutes of video content.
“I want to thank the Universal Peace Federation, and in particular, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, a tremendous person, for her incredible work on behalf of peace all over the world,” Donald Trump said in his 2021 video message.
Ironically, the so-called “Doctor” or “Mother Moon” was subsequently indicted and jailed for corruption in 2025.
“The Moonies,” a malign influence operation and co-founded as a joint U.S. CIA and SK KCIA (NIS) intelligence front with hallmark characteristics akin to “Epstein,” have long been involved in institutional political corruption in the U.S. and globally (especially in Latin America), narco-trafficking, tax evasion, money-laundering, human-trafficking, and arms-weapons trafficking.
More to follow.
Article partly by Fort Bragg-based Noel Wesley Fritsch, all seeding and primary research by Luke David Thorbjorn-Calcino.
