Trump says decision to seek donations followed GOP request

New York — Donald Trump holds his first presidential fundraisers this week. The events directly benefit his campaign, but he doesn't see it that way.

Trump insists that his aboutface from self-funded candidate to one who relies on donors is happening only at the request of the Republican National Committee.

“The RNC really wanted to do it, and I want to show good spirit,” Trump said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “'Cause I was very happy to continue to go along the way I was.”

Trump's self-funding has been a point of pride, a boast making its way into nearly every rally and interview. The billionaire businessman lent his campaign at least $43 million, enough to pay for most of his primary bid.

“By self-funding my campaign, I am not controlled by my donors, special interests or lobbyists. I am working only for the people of the U.S.!” he wrote on Twitter in September.

With this week's fundraisers — a small gathering Tuesday in Albuquerque, N.M., and a large $25,000-perhead dinner Wednesday in Los Angeles — Trump gains hundreds of thousands of campaign dollars but loses his ability to accurately assert that he is free from the shackles of outside donors.

Trump's voters repeatedly have cited his independence from the influence of donors and special interests as a top reason they back him. It's not clear how they will react now.

Perhaps to assuage those voter concerns, Trump is trying to promote his fundraising agreement as beneficial to other Republicans, not his own campaign.

The deal itself shows Trump comes first.

For every check he solicits — and donors can give almost $450,000 apiece — the first $5,400 goes to Trump's primary and general election campaign accounts. The rest is spread among the RNC and 11 state parties.