New York— At Saturday's biggest fundraiser, prominent donors are expected to give Donald Trump's campaign about $40 million. In Palm Beach, Florida, billionaire investor John Paulson expects $43 million for the former president's third White House attempt.
The high-dollar event is projected to draw 100 people, including several billionaires, and break President Joe Biden's $26 million single-event fundraising record set with former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. “The response to our fundraising efforts has been overwhelming, and we’ve raised over $43 million so far,” hedge fund manager Paulson said. “There is massive support among varied donors.”
The "Inaugural Leadership Dinner" signals a rebound of Trump and the Republican Party's fundraising, which had lagged behind Biden and the Democrats.
Over $65.6 million was raised in March by Trump and the GOP, who ended the month with $93.1 million. Biden and the Democrats have not revealed their March numbers, but their political organization reported $53 million in February and $155 million in cash.
When he started his campaign, Trump struggled to recruit major funders, and some supported his Republican primary opponents. After Trump won easily, leveled the field, and became the party's presumptive nominee, the GOP rallied around him.
The email states that donations will benefit the Trump 47 Committee, a cooperative fundraising effort with the Republican National Committee, state Republican parties, and Save America, which pays most of Trump's legal fees. The unusual fundraising pact requires contributors to pay his campaign and Save America the maximum allowed by law before the RNC or state parties.
The RNC will receive hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors who give $814,600 or $250,000, only $5,000 of which goes to Save America.
In March, Trump intended to establish a new RNC leadership team, including his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, but other RNC members worried that the committee's money would go toward Trump's large legal bills, including four criminal prosecutions. The RNC fundraising arrangement doesn't support Trump's legal fees. Whenever cheques of any amount are submitted to the united campaign, Save America and the campaign are paid first.
The invitation lists Robert Bigelow, a Las Vegas businessman who supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign, New York grocery billionaire John Catsimatidis, Linda McMahon, former World Wrestling Entertainment executive and Small Business Administration head under Trump, casino mogul Steve Wynn, and former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler as fundraiser co-chairs.
Visitors can donate $814,600 as a “chairman” to sit at Trump's table or $250,000 as a “host committee” member. Both versions include a photo and a personalized copy of Trump's coffee table book, "Our Journey Together," incorporating administration photos. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will appear as “special guests.”
View for more updates