Donald Trump’s CAMPAIGN says it raised more than $50 million at a fundraising event Saturday in Florida.
While spending large amounts of money on campaigns may not be something to be proud of in some countries, it is often a source of pride for US political candidates.
This year, raising big money is as important as ever, with the November 5 presidential election expected to be the most expensive election cycle in US history.
The former Republican president and Democratic incumbent have been working to raise more money from each other for months, boasting about each significant infusion of new money.
Biden, 81, upped the ante in late March when he hosted a major event in New York with former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton by his side, raising at least $25 million — a record, according to his team.
But the campaign of Trump, 77, said he doubled that figure at an event at billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson’s Palm Beach home, not far from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
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In a joint statement with the Republican National Committee, Team Trump said the event raised more than $50.5 million, calling Biden’s event last week in New York “despairing” in comparison.
Entering the venue with wife Melania by his side, Trump said: “It was a great night before it even started, because people — they wanted to contribute to making America great again. And that’s what happened.”
In a statement, Paulson said: “This sold-out event has raised the most for a single political fundraiser in history. This overwhelming support shows enthusiasm for President Trump and his policies.”
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Sit near Trump
Palm Beach’s guest list included entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, who made his fortune in the hotel industry before launching a space research company, and John Catsimatidis, owner of a large grocery store chain. Both are big Republican donors.
Several of Trump’s outgoing Republican rivals are also on the list, including Sen. Tim Scott, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
After dropping their presidential campaigns, the three have fully endorsed Trump, possibly seeking jobs in his administration if he makes it back to the White House.
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According to The Washington Post, a seat at Trump’s table costs $814,600.
These astronomical sums are used to pay for candidates’ travel, pay their aides, commission polls, and most expensive of all — buy television advertising.
Biden, who describes himself as a product and champion of the middle class, was quick to criticize Trump’s fundraising.
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“While Trump raised money from a bunch of billionaire hedge fund managers, our people-based campaign raised $187 million this quarter because of people like you,” he said Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Currently, Joe Biden’s campaign war chest is larger than Trump’s, as the former president faces mounting legal costs stemming from multiple criminal charges.
The Biden campaign has been more than happy to point that out, referring to Trump as the “Bankrupt Don” in recent statements about the billionaire, who is known for using nasty nicknames. (AFP/Z-3)
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