Following his conviction on 34 felony counts, former President Donald Trump has announced record-shattering fundraising, fueling his campaign for a 2024 rematch with President Biden.
Former President Donald Trump's campaign has witnessed an unprecedented fundraising surge following his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records in a New York City criminal trial. Trump's campaign reported hauling in $34.8 million in fundraising from 6 p.m. ET to midnight on Thursday, immediately after the guilty verdict was announced.
By Friday evening, the campaign had updated the tally, revealing nearly $53 million raised in the 24 hours following the verdict through their online digital fundraising platform. This surge represents "nearly double the biggest day ever recorded for the Trump campaign on the WinRed platform," according to the campaign.
The fundraising surge is seen as a significant boost for Trump as he aims to close the fundraising gap with President Biden ahead of a potential 2024 election rematch. Trump's senior advisers praised the verdict's impact on his fundraising, stating that the guilty verdicts have "awakened the MAGA movement like never before."
Minutes after the verdict was read, Trump's team wasted no time in reaching out to supporters for fundraising. In an email appeal, Trump asked, "Is this the end of America?" and labeled himself a "political prisoner." The email emphasized the imminent end-of-month fundraising deadline and included a photo of Trump identifying him as such.
Trump's campaign website directed donors to WinRed, the GOP online fundraising platform, and Anedot, an alternative platform used by various GOP campaigns. To prevent the "siphoning" of donations, Trump's team warned down-ballot Republican campaigns against directly fundraising off the former president's conviction.
Biden's re-election campaign quickly seized the opportunity to capitalize on Trump's conviction by sending out fundraising appeals. "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 Biden campaign stated in a text to supporters.
The campaign urged supporters to make their first donation or increase their contributions, emphasizing that it was the ideal time to support Biden's reelection campaign.
While Trump's campaign has hailed the fundraising surge as a positive sign, some polls suggest that the conviction may not have a significant impact on his electoral chances. A memo released by Trump's top pollsters on the eve of the verdict argued that a conviction would have no electoral consequences.
However, the fundraising surge suggests that Trump's conviction may have galvanized his base and ignited enthusiasm among his supporters. The true impact of the verdict on Trump's chances of winning the presidency in 2024 remains to be seen.
