Donald Trump's fundraising efforts have received a boost

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The recent indictment of former U.S. President Donald Trump seems to have given a boost to his fundraising efforts, with many of his supporters rallying behind him after the charges were announced, viewing them as politically motivated.

Trump’s team has been actively soliciting donations since the indictment, using the charges to rally his base and raise funds for his legal defense. They’ve sent out fundraising emails and texts, urging supporters to donate and help push back against what they perceive as a partisan attack on the former president.

Some analysts predict that Trump’s fundraising efforts could be even more successful now that he’s facing legal challenges, as his supporters may see this as an opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty and support for him during his time of need. However, others have raised ethical concerns about using a criminal indictment as a tool for fundraising, stating that it could undermine the integrity of the legal system and intensify an already polarized political climate.

The former president’s two political entities brought in $18.8 million during the first quarter of this year.

Former President Donald Trump’s 2024 fundraising has received a significant boost from his indictment, according to his campaign’s new figures. Trump raised $18.8 million in the first quarter of 2023 through his joint fundraising committee and presidential campaign. However, his campaign also reported that it brought in almost the same amount, $15.4 million, in the two weeks after his indictment. This indicates how much the charges against him have energized his supporters. Additionally, almost a quarter of those who donated to Trump during that period had never given to him before.

The indictment has helped Trump to solidify his standing with his supporters and increase his campaign war chest. Eric Wilson, a Republican digital strategist, said that “any time a candidate’s name is all over the media and dominating attention, it’s good for fundraising.” It remains to be seen whether Trump’s fundraising pace will continue or gradually return to its slower pre-indictment level.

Trump has been raising money through his leadership political action committee, Save America, and his presidential campaign. His campaign’s filings with the Federal Election Commission will show that it collected $14.5 million during the first quarter, nearly all of which came from a transfer by the joint fundraising committee. The campaign spent $3.5 million and had $13.9 million in cash on hand as of the end of March.

Trump’s legal battles have become the centerpiece of his digital fundraising push, with regular appeals to supporters portraying himself as a victim and asking for campaign contributions. In the two weeks following the indictment, more than 97 percent of those who contributed to Trump’s joint fundraising committee and his campaign did so in increments of less than $200. Trump received over 312,000 donations, with an average contribution of $49, between the accounts in that period.

Although Trump’s fundraising performance is lower than what he raised during his 2019 reelection run, he is almost certain to be a top performer in the current election due to his substantial base of support and accelerated fundraising since his indictment. He has raised more money than another announced candidate, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. However, Trump faces a formidable opponent on the fundraising front in Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has been drawing large- and small-sized donations into a state-based political account. According to filings released earlier this week, the organization reported having $85 million available.