Donald Trump and the Republican Party announced on Wednesday that they raised more than $65.6 million in March, bringing their campaign accounts to $93.1 million. This increase comes as Trump solidifies his position as the presumptive nominee and installs new party leadership. The campaign attributes the fundraising success to overwhelming support from voters and emphasizes the importance of donations from the backbone of the nation. The Republican Party is aiming to catch up to the fundraising efforts of President Joe Biden and the Democrats as the election approaches.
While Biden and the Democratic National Committee have not yet released their fundraising numbers for March, their political operation reported bringing in $53 million in February and closing the month with $155 million cash on hand. Biden has been fundraising jointly with his party since launching his reelection campaign, giving him a head start compared to Trump, who had to navigate a field of primary challengers. Biden recently held a successful fundraiser in New York City with former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, raising a record $26 million.
Despite Trump’s fundraising success in March, the Biden campaign criticized the former president for focusing on billionaire special interests and lacking grassroots donors. They argued that Trump is not reaching out to voters effectively and lacks the necessary infrastructure, donor base, and broad appeal to secure victory in the upcoming election. Biden’s campaign spokesperson highlighted the importance of engaging with all voters, not just wealthy elites, in order to build a strong and diverse support base.
Before merging with the RNC, Trump’s campaign and his political action committee Save America raised only $15.9 million in February and ended the month with $37 million on hand. Save America has been covering the majority of Trump’s legal expenses in various court cases. Trump appointed new leaders at the RNC, including Lara Trump, to bolster his campaign efforts. He also initiated joint fundraising with the party, allowing for higher contribution limits and a more coordinated fundraising strategy. The RNC chairman emphasized Trump’s ability to unite Republicans and lead them to victory in the upcoming election.
Trump is set to host a high-dollar fundraiser in Palm Beach, Florida, with the goal of raising $33 million, surpassing the fundraising efforts of the Biden event. The new fundraising agreement between Trump and the RNC directs donations to prioritize his campaign and Save America before distributing funds to the party and state committees. Donors who contribute the suggested amounts at the Palm Beach event will have a significant portion of their donation allocated to the party committee, demonstrating the collaborative fundraising approach between Trump and the Republican Party as they work towards a successful campaign.
