Global Courant 2023-04-15 22:12:17
NEW YORK –
Former US President Donald Trump has raised more than $34 million since the start of the year for his 2024 White House campaign, buoyed by a major surge in donations since the announcement of criminal charges against him in New York, according to his campaign. His total after the March 30 indictment came close to what he’s taken in for the past three months.
Trump’s latest fundraising report, due to be filed Saturday with the Federal Election Commission, shows he raised more than $18.8 million between his main campaign account and a joint fundraising account in the first three months of the year, the campaign said.
Of that total for the January 1 to March 31 period, $4 million came in after Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on March 30 on charges related to a hush money case stemming from the 2016 election.
The fundraising figures were first reported by Politico.
Trump began fundraising after news of his indictment, and his campaign said he raised $15.4 million since the announcement of the indictment and Saturday’s filing deadline for the fundraising report.
Trump, who is also facing several other criminal investigations, has tried to use his legal troubles to recruit supporters, claiming all cases are politically motivated. He has portrayed the New York charges as “election interference” but also suggested they could help him win support.
Trump dominated the GOP field in the early stages of the 2024 presidential race. But many high-dollar GOP donors wanted to direct their support elsewhere this time. Until his indictment, his campaign fundraising had fallen short of the huge sums he raised in days or hours during his presidency.
Only a few candidates have officially entered the race, Trump’s UN ambassador Nikki Haley, a former governor of South Carolina; former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who announced days after the Trump indictment was filed; and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
More candidates, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, are expected to enter the race by the time the next fundraising reports are expected in mid-July.
