By Gram Slattery and Jarrett Renshaw

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a wealthy private donor has provided $130 million to the U.S. government to cover potential shortfalls in military salaries caused by the ongoing government shutdown.

Speaking at a White House event, Trump praised the wealthy donor as a patriot and a “friend of mine,” but declined to name him.

“He called us the other day and said, ‘I’d like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown… because I love the military and I love the country,’” Trump said.

The administration faces mounting pressure to ensure active-duty service members receive their paychecks despite the budget impasse. Trump previously signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to repur

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