Former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party commenced their high-dollar general election fundraising operation on Saturday evening. In Palm Beach, Florida, a gathering of major donors, including both outspoken loyalists and those newly joining the cause, took place to lend their support to the GOP’s presumptive nominee.
Former First Lady Melania Trump made a public appearance alongside her husband, the former president, for the second time during this election cycle. The last time Melania was publicly seen with her husband was at a polling location in Palm Beach on Florida’s primary election day.
According to the organizers, billionaire John Paulson’s fundraiser has raised over $50 million for the Trump campaign and the Republican Party. This amount surpasses the $26 million raised at President Joe Biden’s fundraiser in New York last weekend, which featured former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
During his conversation with donors, Trump discussed various topics including tax cuts, border security, “energy independence,” getting rid of President Joe Biden’s electric vehicle mandate, and ensuring the protection of Israel. This information was shared by a campaign official and other individuals who were familiar with his remarks.
In a gathering of over 100 guests, Trump took the stage and delivered a captivating 45-minute speech. Following the address, he engaged in conversation with the attendees over a shared meal. Furthermore, Trump took the opportunity to introduce several of his trusted allies and former 2024 contenders, elaborating on their accomplishments and potential.
Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen. Tim Scott, Gov. Doug Burgum, RNC Chair Michael Whatley, and co-chair Lara Trump were among the notable speakers introduced by Trump to address the audience after dinner, according to a donor who attended the significant fundraising event. Also present at the fundraiser were Donald Trump Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Tiffany Trump.
According to one attendee, Vivek’s and Lara’s comments were the most inspiring among all the speakers, including President Trump. The attendee described the president’s remarks as the best they have ever heard from him. They mentioned that he was focused, strong, and kind towards others. The president also emphasized his determination to achieve success for every single American, without seeking retribution.
According to an attendee, the recent call by Biden for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza was a topic of concern among donors and guests at the fundraiser. They mentioned that this issue was discussed by other attendees during the event, and it seemed to have stirred strong emotions.
According to one attendee, the main message conveyed by Trump’s remarks on Saturday night can be summarized as a feeling of gratitude.
When Trump became the party’s presumptive nominee, the Republican Party faced a significant disadvantage as they were unable to raise funds together. As a result, they had a considerable fundraising gap to make up for. By April, Trump and the RNC found themselves with $100 million less in the bank compared to the Biden campaign and the Democratic Party, who had a war chest of $190 million. This information was announced by the respective campaigns.
The Trump campaign, on the other hand, is promoting Saturday’s fundraiser as the start of their significant fundraising efforts for the general election. They assert that wealthy Republican donors are rallying behind the former president, viewing it as a demonstration of his fundraising expertise that will enable them to narrow the funding disparity with their Democratic counterparts swiftly.
According to a statement from Trump campaign spokesperson Danielle Alvarez, it required three Democrat presidents to raise $25 million, while President Donald J. Trump was able to raise over $50 million.
Before entering host John Paulson’s residence on Saturday evening, Trump briefly addressed the press, expressing his excitement about the amazing night that had already unfolded.
“This evening is already off to an incredible start as people are eager to contribute to the cause of making America great again,” he exclaimed, emphasizing the significance of November Election Day.
The event, which charged donors over $800,000 per ticket, managed to raise funds for various entities including the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee, and numerous state GOP committees. Additionally, the event supported Trump’s Save America leadership PAC, allowing donors to contribute up to $5,000 each. It’s worth noting that this PAC has been instrumental in covering a significant portion of Trump’s legal expenses, amounting to tens of millions of dollars, as revealed in disclosures.
The co-chairs of Trump’s Saturday fundraiser consist of a notable lineup, including former ambassadors, Trump administration officials such as Linda McMahon, former Small Business Administrator, and Wilbur Ross, former Commerce Secretary. The invitation to the fundraiser, obtained by ABC News, also reveals the participation of Woody Johnson, the owner of the New York Jets.
Former Trump Victory finance chair Todd Ricketts, energy mogul Harold Hamm, aerospace executive Robert Bigelow, hedge fund manager Robert Mercer, and his daughter Rebekah Mercer, and casino tycoon Phil Ruffin are also listed as co-chairs, according to the invitation.
In a statement to ABC News on Saturday evening, Paulson announced that they had raised an incredible $50.5 million for the re-election of President Trump. This event, which was completely sold out, shattered records by becoming the most successful political fundraiser in history. The overwhelming support received is a clear indication of the immense enthusiasm for President Trump and his policies.
In a fundraising video shared on X, Instagram, and Facebook, Biden expressed his gratitude to grassroots donors for their contributions to his campaign. He also criticized Trump for exclusively attending a fundraiser for wealthy donors. Earlier on Saturday, Biden highlighted this issue, emphasizing the importance of support from everyday Americans.
“Folks, today Trump is in Florida, collecting funds from a group of wealthy hedge fund billionaires,” Biden remarked. “It’s a battle between Scranton and Palm Beach in this campaign. On one side, we have a grassroots movement consisting of hardworking nurses, teachers, firefighters, and police officers. On the other side, we have Donald Trump and a few billionaires who are solely interested in receiving tax cuts.”
Tickets for Biden’s fundraiser, which included appearances by Obama and Clinton, were priced at $500,000. Although this amount was lower than the tickets for Trump’s recent fundraiser, the Biden campaign and the Democratic Party managed to collect donations exceeding $800,000.
