NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's campaign announced Saturday that it had raised $50.5 million, as the campaign works to catch up with President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party's fundraising juggernaut. This is an astonishing amount of money being reported.
Revenues reported at the major donor event in Palm Beach, Fla., home of billionaire investor John Paulson, set a new record for fundraising in a single event, and the Biden campaign recently announced That's nearly double the $26 million he announced he raised at a rally with the president and others. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
“It's clearer than ever that we have the message, the strategy, and the money to lead President Trump to victory on November 5th,” senior Trump campaign advisers Chris Lacivita and Susie Wiles said in a statement. ” he said.
The event, billed as the “Inaugural Summit Dinner,” signals a resurgence in fundraising for Mr. Trump and the Republican Party, which has lagged behind Mr. Biden and the Democratic Party.
Trump arrived at the event with his wife, Melania Trump, and told reporters: “It was an incredible night before it even started, because people wanted to contribute to the cause of Making America Great Again. .And that's what happened,'' he said shortly.
President Trump and the Republican Party announced earlier this week that they raised more than $65.6 million in March and ended the month with $93.1 million. Biden and the Democratic Party announced Saturday that they received more than $90 million last month and have more than $192 million on hand.
“While Donald Trump is busy handing out golf trophies at Mar-a-Lago and hanging out with billionaires, Joe Biden is crisscrossing the country, connecting with voters and improving our nation's economy. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jamie Harrison mentioned President Trump's Florida mansion in a statement.
Campaign financing reports filed with the Federal Election Commission detailing donations from Saturday's event are not expected to be made public until a filing date in mid-July.
In the early days of his campaign, Mr. Trump had a particularly difficult time attracting large donors, some of whom lined up to support other Republicans challenging him in the presidential primaries. However, Republicans solidified their support for Trump after he won easily, tied the race, and became the party's presumptive nominee.
Saturday's big-ticket event was attended by about 100 guests, including several billionaires. Donations to the event will come from a joint fundraising agreement with the Republican National Committee, state Republican parties, and Save America, the political action committee that pays for most of Mr. Trump's legal costs, according to the invitation. The money will be donated to the Trump 47 Committee. In an unusual arrangement, the fundraising agreement requires his campaign and Save America to first contribute the maximum amount allowed by law, before the RNC and state parties get their share.
For donors who give the proposed $814,600 per person or $250,000 per person, only $5,000 of their donations will go to Save America, with hundreds of thousands of dollars going to the cash-strapped RNC. It turns out.
As President Trump prepared to install a new, hand-picked leadership team at the RNC in March, including his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, some RNC members said that the committee's funds were transferred to Trump on numerous occasions. There were concerns that the money would be used to pay Trump's huge legal costs as he fights his case in court. Including 4 criminal cases.
The funding deal does not divert RNC funds to Trump's legal bills. However, when a check of any amount is deposited into a combined campaign, the campaign and Save America are paid first by default.
Co-chairs of the fundraiser include Robert Bigelow, a Las Vegas-based businessman who supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign. New York grocery billionaire John Catsimatidis. Linda McMahon is a former World Wrestling Entertainment executive who served as head of the Small Business Administration during the Trump era. Casino king Steve Wynn. Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler also attended, according to the invitation.
Guests were asked to contribute $814,600 each as “chair” donors to have a seat at Trump's table, and $250,000 each as “host committee” donors. Both options come with a photo opportunity and a special copy of President Trump's coffee table. “Our Journey Together,” a book featuring photos from his time in power.
Trump's former rivals for the Republican nomination, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy were among the “special guests.” It was expected that he would appear.
Hours before the fundraiser, Trump took to his social media sites to complain about the judge in his hush-money trial in New York, saying the former president once again cast himself as a man who was imprisoned for years by South Africa's long-standing apartheid regime. He was compared to the late Nelson Mandela. He became the leader of the country.
“If this partisan hacker wants me to be 'condemned' by speaking the obvious truth openly, I would gladly become a modern-day Nelson Mandela. That would be my great honor,” Trump said. wrote.
In response, Biden campaign official Jasmine Harris said, “Imagine being so self-centered that you compare yourself to Jesus Christ or Nelson Mandela in less than a week.・It's Trump.''
___
Associated Press writer Stephanie Matat in Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.
