GOP Donors Aim to Trump Biden's Fundraising Success with $33 Million Fundraiser
ICARO Media Group
This total would surpass the impressive $26 million raised by Biden at an event in New York just days ago.
The fundraiser, set to take place on April 6 in Palm Beach, Florida, intends to direct donations to the Trump campaign and Save America PAC, which covers a significant portion of Trump's legal expenses. The Financial Times first reported details of the event, while CBS News obtained the invitation.
The timing of the GOP fundraiser coincides with the Biden campaign's strong fundraising efforts, which have continued to bolster their financial advantage over Trump and the RNC. In a recent high-profile event at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, Biden appeared alongside former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, billing it as the most successful political fundraiser in U.S. history.
As of March, Biden's reelection campaign boasted $71 million in cash on hand, more than twice the amount Trump's campaign had at the beginning of the month. Including funds from the Democratic National Committee and affiliated joint fundraising committees, Biden's war chest was at an impressive $155 million.
In contrast, the combined resources of the Trump campaign, the RNC, and pro-Trump political action committees stood at just over $74 million in early March.
Representatives from the Trump campaign have acknowledged the challenge of matching Biden's fundraising prowess. However, they noted that they have been generating over $1 million per day in donations over the past six days, including a significant influx of over $10.6 million from online, small-dollar contributions last week.
The exact March fundraising figures for both parties are yet to be independently confirmed, as updated federal campaign finance reports will be released next month.
Notably, guests invited to Trump's Florida fundraiser have been asked to contribute between $250,000 and $814,000 per person. Of this, $6,600 will go directly to the Trump campaign, the subsequent $5,000 will benefit Save America PAC within legal limits. The remaining funds will then be allocated to the RNC and state parties nationwide.
The fundraising committee behind the event, known as the Trump 47 Committee, employs an unconventional approach in diverting funds to cover Trump's legal expenses, which have already exceeded $10 million this year.
It is worth mentioning that attendees of the dinner can request alternative allocations for their donations, as stated in the fine print of the invitation. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and Vivek Ramaswamy are listed as the speakers for the event.
Speaking to CBS News, John Paulson, a hedge fund billionaire hosting the fundraiser, expressed overwhelming support and announced that they had already raised over $33 million. He added that the dinner was relatively small in nature and nearly at its capacity.
The invitation includes an extensive list of more than three dozen co-chairs for the fundraiser, featuring notable names such as aerospace entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, Woody Johnson (owner of the New York Jets and former U.S. ambassador to the U.K.), casino moguls Steve Wynn and Phil Ruffin, and former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
Following Trump's confirmation as the presumptive GOP nominee, he joined forces with the RNC to raise funds and swiftly revamped the committee's leadership. Michael Whatley, former chair of the North Carolina Republican Party, and Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, were appointed to helm the party. This transition led to widespread layoffs, and potential new hires were reportedly asked about their beliefs regarding the 2020 election being stolen.
Chris LaCivita, Trump's co-campaign manager, and James Blair, a senior Trump campaign adviser, continue to collaborate with the RNC while retaining their positions within the Trump campaign.