PRESIDENT RAISES $150M SINCE ELECTION DAY
Trump’s political operation echoing claims of vote fraud
WASHINGTON
President Donald Trump’s political operation has raised more than $150 million since Election Day, using a blizzard of misleading appeals about the election to shatter fundraising records set during the campaign, according to people with knowledge of the contributions.
The inf lux of political donations is one reason Trump and some allies are inclined to continue a legal onslaught and public affairs blitz focused on claims of election fraud, even as their attempts have repeatedly failed in court and as key states continue to certify wins for President-elect Joe Biden.
Much of the money raised since the election probably will go into an account for the president to use on political activities after he leaves office, while some of the contributions will go toward what’s left of the legal fight.
The people with knowledge of the fundraising amounts spoke on the condition of anonymity to disclose internal numbers. The
Trump campaign declined to comment.
The surge of donations is largely from small-dollar donors, campaign officials say, tapping into the president’s base of loyal and fervent donors who tend to contribute the most when they believe the president is under siege or facing unfair political attacks.
The campaign has sent about 500 post-election fundraising pitches to donors, often with hyperbolic language about voter fraud and the like.
“I need you now more than ever,” says one recent email that claims to be from the president. “The Recount Results were BOGUS,” another email subject line reads.
“Our democracy and freedom is at risk like never before, which is why I’m reaching out to you now with an URGENT request,” reads an email to donors from Vice President Mike Pence. “President Trump and I need our STRONGEST supporters, like YOU, to join the Election Defense Task Force. This group will be responsible for DEFENDING the Election from voter fraud, and we really need you to step up to the front lines of this battle.”
The donations are purportedly being solicited for the Official Election Defense Fund, which is blazed in all red across the Trump campaign’s website, with an ominous picture of the president outside the White House.
There is no such account, however. The fundraising requests are being made by the Trump Make America Great Again Committee, a joint fundraising committee that raises money for the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee.
As of Nov. 18, that committee shares its funds with Save America, a new leadership PAC that Trump set up in early November and that he can use to fund his postpresidency activities.
The money raised since Nov. 3 is a massive haul for such a short period, especially after the election, when losing campaigns typically slow their fundraising operation.
By comparison, the Trump Make America Great Again Committee raised $125 million in the second quarter of 2020, according to federal records. The campaign account’s best single month was September, when it raised $81 million, according to available data.
The contributions, from thousands of donors across the country, are split into several accounts, including the leadership PAC that is loosely regulated and could be used to personally benefit the president after he leaves the White House.