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8 months ago
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Donald Trump has raised $50.5 million at a Florida fundraiser for his 2024 re-election campaign - the highest amount ever raised at a single event.
Saturday's $250,000-a-ticket bash was held at the Palm Beach home of Trump supporter John Paulson, and slightly exceeded the $50m fundraising total organizers predicted.
The enormous amount is almost double the $26 million Joe Biden's campaign recently raised at a New York City bash which boasted the added star-power of former Democrat presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
'It's clearer than ever that we have the message, the operation, and the money to propel President Trump to victory on November,' Team Trump told AP.
The presidential hopeful was supported at the dinner by wife Melania, who broke her recent low-profile to dazzle in a tropical, pink jumpsuit.
Donald Trump, pictured with wife Melania has raised $50.5 million at a Florida fundraiser for his 2024 re-election campaign - the highest amount ever raised at a single event
Trump and wife Melania are pictured with supporter John Paulson and his wife Jenny at the couple's Palm Beach home where the fundraiser was held on Saturday
The enormous amount is almost double the $26 million Joe Biden 's campaign recently raised at a New York City bash attended by former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton
Around 100 guests were invited to Paulson's home for an 'inaugural leadership dinner' with Trump and 'special guests' Senator Tim Scott, Governor Doug Burgum and Vivek Ramaswamy - all former rivals of the presidential hopeful.
Attendees wanting a seat at Trump's table were asked to donate $814,600 per person as a 'chairman' contributor.
All donors were offered a photo opportunity and a personalized copy of Trump's coffee table book featuring photographs from his administration, 'Our Journey Together.'
Trump was joined by wife Melania for the occasion, who is said to have her eye firmly on regaining her first lady status by joining her husband's campaign trail on her own terms.
Part of this is an event she is slated to host for LGBT Republicans on April 20.
Until now, Trump's fundraising has lagged behind Biden's and he has been hamstrung by mounting legal bills.
His team now hopes he'll soon be able to match the incumbent's financial firepower ahead of polling day on November 5.
'This has been some incredible evening before it even starts because people — they wanted to contribute to a cause of making America great again, and that's what's happened,' Trump said briefly as he arrived at the event with his wife Melania Trump.
Donors were asked to fork out $250,000 for a ticket, with a recommendation of $814,600 for the chance to sit at Trump's table
The presidential hopeful was supported at the dinner by wife Melania, who broke her recent low-profile to dazzle in a tropical, pink jumpsuit
Around 100 guests, which included several billionaires, were issued this invitation promising a dinner with Trump and three special guests
Trump and the GOP announced earlier in the week that they raised more than $65.6 million in March and closed out the month with $93.1 million.
Biden and the Democrats announced Saturday that they took in more than $90 million last month and had $192 million-plus on hand.
Trump initially struggled to attract big donors, but with every win he has come a step closer to becoming the party's presumptive nominee, with the GOP rallying behind him.
Contributions to the event will go toward the Trump 47 Committee, according to the invitation, a joint fundraising agreement with the Republican National Committee, state Republican parties and Save America, a political action committee that pays the bulk of Trump's legal bills.
Donors who gave the suggested $814,600 per person or $250,000 per person will only have $5,000 of their donation go to Save America, sending hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cash-strapped RNC.
Some RNC members were concerned the donations might be redirected to pay for several court cases jamming Trump's finances.
The former president is embroiled in a number of court proceedings, including four criminal cases.
Trump has already been hit with a penalty totaling more than $450 million following his New York fraud trial.
He was also ordered to pay a staggering $83 million for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll after she accused him of sex abuse.
This comes on top of spiraling legal costs associated with the various cases.
Former GOP rival Vivek Ramaswamy was listed as one of the dinner's 'special guests'
Senator Tim Scott also appeared on the billing at the event in support of former adversary Trump
North Dakota Governor and former presidential hopeful rounded out the dinner's special guests
Hours before the fundraiser, Trump complained on his social media site about the judge in his upcoming New York hush-money trial.
The former president once more compared himself to the late Nelson Mandela, who was jailed for years by South Africa's longtime apartheid government before he became the country's leader.
'If this Partisan Hack wants to put me in the 'clink' for speaking the open and obvious TRUTH, I will gladly become a Modern Day Nelson Mandela - It will be my GREAT HONOR,' Trump wrote.
In response, Biden campaign official Jasmine Harris said: 'Imagine being so self-centered that you compare yourself to Jesus Christ and Nelson Mandela all within the span of little more than a week: that's Donald Trump for you.'
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