Washington: The Pentagon accepted an anonymous $US130 million ($200 million) gift to help pay members of the military during the government shutdown, raising ethical questions after President Donald Trump had announced that a friend had offered the gift to offset any shortfalls.

“That’s what I call a patriot,” Trump said during a White House event when he disclosed the payment from the donor.

It came as the US military sent an aircraft carrier from Europe to the waters off South America, in the latest escalation of military firepower in a region where the Trump administration has unleashed more rapid strikes in recent days against boats it says are carrying drugs .

Trump declined to name the person, whom he called “a friend of mine”, saying the man didn’t want the recognition.

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