British Billionaire Christopher Hohn Funds U.S. Political Causes, Report Reveals

A report from Americans for Public Trust (APT) has revealed that British billionaire Christopher Hohn has contributed over $553 million to various U.S. organizations from 2014 to 2023, primarily through his nonprofit, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). The report highlights Hohn's significant financial influence on American political advocacy, particularly in environmental initiatives.

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Hohn's funding has been directed towards campaigns that promote a green energy agenda, raising concerns about foreign influence in U.S. politics. APT Executive Director Caitlin Sutherland stated, "The American people are overwhelmingly opposed to and alarmed by foreign influence shaping our politics. If these radical foreign billionaires are allowed to funnel money into our political system virtually unchecked, there’s nothing stopping foreign adversaries from doing the same."

The report identifies Hohn as one of the largest disclosed individual donors to the global organization Extinction Rebellion (XR), which has organized protests advocating for urgent climate action. APT describes XR as an international collective founded in 2018 that has staged various demonstrations worldwide, including in the U.S. Hohn has reportedly donated at least $65,000 directly to XR and nearly $200,000 through CIFF.

In 2019, XR's American affiliate called for rebellion against the U.S. government due to perceived inaction on climate issues. The report notes that during protests in Washington, D.C., volunteers claimed to have "seized" over twenty intersections, leading to multiple arrests.

Hohn's financial contributions extend to the Center for Climate Integrity, which received $7 million from CIFF in 2018 to support climate litigation efforts in the U.S. and abroad. The organization has encouraged cities to pursue lawsuits against energy companies, alleging their role in climate change.

Additionally, Hohn's funding has reached the dark money network managed by Arabella Advisors. Since 2016, CIFF has contributed over $11 million to two Arabella-managed nonprofits, the New Venture Fund and the Windward Fund. This places Hohn among a small group of foreign billionaires, including Swiss philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss, who have financially supported left-leaning political causes in the U.S.

APT's report also raises concerns about CIFF's ties to China. In 2019, CIFF opened an office in Beijing, claiming its work was aimed at providing climate solutions to Chinese leadership. The organization has supported projects linked to China's Belt and Road Initiative and has been overseen by Chinese governmental ministries since being designated as an NGO in China in 2017.

Sutherland expressed concern over the implications of Hohn's connections, stating, "With such a close working relationship with the Chinese government, it raises concerns that the influence Hohn and CIFF are trying to exert on a host of American energy issues may inadvertently help CCP officials in Beijing clandestinely piggyback their own policy aims and goals into the United States."

To address these issues, APT recommends that U.S. lawmakers implement stricter regulations to limit foreign funding in domestic politics. Proposed measures include banning foreign contributions to 501(c)(4) organizations and requiring transparency regarding foreign funding sources for politically active groups.

Sutherland concluded, "Christopher Hohn, and other foreign billionaires like Hansjörg Wyss, have been able to exploit loopholes that allow foreign money to fund policy fights that shape American politics to fit their radical agendas. While some states have already taken action to stop foreign money in ballot issue campaigns, more action is needed to comprehensively ban all foreign influence."