NYT: Trump reportedly wants Alina Habba to donate part of $50m contract to his presidential library

The New York Times reports that Trump has told aides and allies that former lawyer Alina Habba should donate part of her $50 million-plus contract with a pardoned Venezuelan banker’s family to his future presidential library.

President Donald Trump has told aides and allies that his former lawyer Alina Habba should donate part of her contract with a Venezuelan billionaire’s family to his future presidential library or another Trump-affiliated entity, according to a New York Times report cited by The Daily Beast.

Multiple people briefed on the conversations told the Times that Trump was angry over the deal. Habba is to be paid $10 million a year over four years, plus bonuses, as general counsel for Concord Partners, a firm launched in October 2025 by Isabela Herrera, daughter of banker Julio Herrera Velutini. Trump pardoned Herrera Velutini on January 15.

The Times reported that Trump told at least one ally the family should not pay out the rest of the contract. It was unclear whether he asked Habba directly to make a donation.

Habba posted on X: “I was never paid to secure a pardon.” She did not respond to the Times’ questions about her talks with Trump. The Daily Beast has asked Habba and the White House for comment.