Trump and moderates launch rival Republican war chests

A FUNDING row has broken out in the Republican party after Donald Trump urged grassroots members to donate to his movement through his personal website, while the former president’s opponents set up their own war chest.

Mr Trump used his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference to ask members for donations to the Save America PAC, which will back candidates he supports at the forthcoming midterm elections.

But Adam Kinzinger, a Republican congressman who spoke out against Mr Trump, has established the Americans Keeping Country First fund to exclusively support Republican candidates who voted for the former president’s impeachment or conviction.

“Republicans must say enough is enough. It’s time to unplug the outrage machine, reject the politics of personality and cast aside the conspiracy theories and the rage,” he said. In addition to the fund, The Washington Post reported that Mr Kinzinger’s allies were poised to launch a sister non-profit to “build a grassroots army”.

On Sunday, Mr Trump named each of the 17 Republican politicians who voted to impeach or convict him and called on voters to “get rid” of them. Liz Cheney, the third-ranking leader in the House, was singled out as a “warmonger”, and could face a challenge for her Wyoming seat by Donald Trump Jr – the former president’s eldest child. Save America PAC is understood to have raised more than $70million (£50million), and Mr Trump is planning to launch a super PAC to collect unlimited donations.

At the conference, he said: “If you want to help us take back the future of our country, go to donaldjtrump.com. There’s only one way to contribute to our efforts to elect America-first Republican conservatives, and to make America great again, and that’s through Save America PAC and donaldjtrump.com.

“So do whatever you can because we’re going to help a lot of great people. We need your help to win. And to fight big tech and the radical Left and the DC establishment.”

The message was followed by a text to supporters. “Did you miss me?” it said. “Our movement is just beginning and our brightest days are ahead of us, but only if we keep pushing. It’s up to YOU to STAND UP & SAVE AMERICA!”

$70m

The amount Donald Trump is thought to have raised to fund midterm election campaigns for candidates he supports