Following his conviction in a criminal case involving hush money payments, former President Donald Trump’s campaign reported raising an impressive $52.8 million through online donations.
Just over 12 hours after the verdict, the campaign announced on Friday morning that it had already raised $34.8 million. However, this claim remains unverified until the Federal Election Commission releases the official fundraising reports.
This fundraising effort also closed the gap between Trump’s campaign and President Joe Biden’s campaign, with nearly one-third of the donors contributing to Trump for the first time. These new supporters provide a potential base for future contributions now that the campaign has their contact information.
The campaign emphasized that the influx of new donors indicates growing support for Trump as more Americans join his movement. If the reported figures are accurate, the guilty verdict resulted in the most lucrative 24-hour fundraising period for any candidate this election cycle, surpassing the total Trump campaign fundraising for the last six months of 2023 combined.
Trump’s legal issues have previously boosted his fundraising efforts. After his arraignment in Georgia related to an indictment, his campaign raised $4 million following the release of his mug shot in 2023. On Thursday, Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
Campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita stated that this fundraising momentum is only just beginning. This surge in donations may have significantly narrowed the financial lead that Biden’s campaign had over Trump. As of early May, Biden’s campaign held $84 million in cash on hand, compared to Trump’s $49 million.