The Trump campaign benefited from a “record-shattering, small-dollar fundraising haul” of $52.8 million within 24 hours after former President Donald Trump was convicted on felony charges in New York City, campaign officials said.
More than one-third of the post-conviction donors had never contributed to the Trump campaign before, a campaign statement said. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said 485,000 people had contributed a total of $34.8 million by the morning after President Trump’s conviction was announced.
“The American people stand behind President Trump in the face of this unprecedented weaponization of the judicial system, and we are laser-focused on investing these resources to get out the vote, protect the ballot, and re-elect President Donald J. Trump,” Mr. Whatley said in a statement sent to The Epoch Times via email.
The record-breaking cash flow hit about a week before two high-dollar Trump fundraisers are to be held in California. The Trump 47 Committee, a joint fundraising organization authorized by Donald J. Trump for President, will hold one event on June 7 in Beverly Hills and the other on June 8 in Newport Beach.
“This momentum is just getting started. And, together, as President Trump stated perfectly, Americans will render the real verdict November 5th.” That’s the date of the general election. The former and incumbent presidents are expected to be confirmed as the official nominees of their respective political parties this summer.
Earlier on Friday morning, the campaign said the $34.8 million tallied by then was “nearly double the biggest day ever recorded for the Trump campaign on the WinRed platform.”
“Crooked Joe Biden and the Democrats, with their election interference political witch hunt, have awakened the MAGA movement like never before,” the campaign said.
Within minutes after the “sham trial verdict,” the digital fundraising system was “overwhelmed,” causing “temporary delays” because of the amount of traffic, the campaign said. The website crashed, but officials restored it.
“President Trump and our campaign are immensely grateful [for] this outpouring of support from patriots across our country. President Trump is fighting to save our nation and November 5th is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict,” his campaign said.
Mr. Whatley, in an interview with Fox News, said: “The American support for the president is grounded in the fact that he is waking up this morning, ready to fight for the American people just like he wakes up every morning ready to fight for the American people.”
When asked why the Trump campaign warned other Republican politicians against using the conviction for fundraising purposes, Mr. Whatley said the purpose is “to make sure that the support for the president goes to the president.”
He said the organization is focused on how to win the election.
“We’re going to win it by turning out the vote and by protecting the ballot,” Mr. Whatley said. “We’re ready to continue our work.”
President Biden’s reelection campaign also sent out a fundraising text message on the coattails of the Trump verdict.
“Despite a jury finding Donald Trump guilty today, there is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box,” the text read.
President Trump’s campaign website linked to a donation page after the verdict that simply said, “political prisoner” on it.
The Biden campaign acknowledged their opponent’s fundraising efforts after jurors revealed the guilty verdict.
“But there is one other certainty—as you read this, Donald Trump’s supporters are fired up and likely setting fundraising records for his campaign.
“That’s money he will use to try to get back into the White House to carry out his threats of revenge and retribution against his political opponents,” the text read.
The campaign wrote that “while the MAGA Right comes to the aid of Trump, Joe Biden—and those who care about democracy—need you,“ with MAGA referencing the former president’s ”Make America Great Again” slogan.
The message included a link to a fundraising page and asked for $20 contributions “or whatever you can [donate] today.”
“If you have been waiting for the perfect time to make your first donation to Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, we’re here to tell you today is the day,” the Biden campaign wrote.
But during his speech to the nation, President Trump encouraged more contributions for his campaign, saying his opponent and supporters “are not on the side of our country.”
President Trump said he is standing strong for America while imperiling his own freedom, and the way his case was handled is a symptom of the deterioration of the American justice system.
“I’m willing to do whatever I have to do to save our country and our Constitution,” President Trump said as a crowd at Trump Tower burst into applause.
