Former President Donald J. Trump and the Republican National Committee raised an impressive $141 million in May, according to campaign officials. This significant amount was partly fueled by the recent legal challenges faced by Mr. Trump, showcasing continued strong support from his base.
This fundraising success will aid Mr. Trump in narrowing the financial gap between him and President Biden. While Mr. Biden’s May fundraising numbers have not yet been disclosed, it is likely that he will be outraised for the second consecutive month. The $141 million raised by Mr. Trump and the R.N.C. in May matches the combined total raised by Mr. Biden and the Democratic Party in March and April.
These figures represent Mr. Trump’s most successful month of fundraising so far in 2024. Lara Trump, the co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, attributed the strong fundraising to the $70 million raised within 48 hours after Mr. Trump’s recent legal troubles.
The reported $141 million total includes hard dollars that can be directly utilized by the Trump campaign and the R.N.C. Additionally, the campaign stated that another $150 million was secured by outside organizations supporting Mr. Trump. These outside groups operate independently from the campaign and typically have less efficient fundraising strategies.
While the main super PAC supporting Mr. Trump, MAGA Inc., did not provide specific details on its fundraising efforts, newer pro-Trump groups like Right for America have shown early success in fundraising.
Even before his recent legal challenges, Mr. Trump had been improving his fundraising performance as the presumptive Republican nominee. In April, Mr. Trump and his allied groups surpassed Mr. Biden in fundraising for the first time. Following his recent legal troubles, the campaign reported raising nearly $53 million online within 24 hours, contributing to the impressive May fundraising total of $141 million.
Mr. Biden’s campaign declined to disclose fundraising numbers for the president and his affiliated groups.
In addition to grassroots support, Mr. Trump has successfully reengaged major Republican donors who had previously withheld their support. Notable figures like billionaire venture capitalist Doug Leone, who distanced himself from Mr. Trump after the Capitol riot in 2021, have now expressed their support for the former president.
This ongoing fundraising success indicates a strong base of support for Mr. Trump as he navigates his political endeavors.
Shane Goldmacher and Nicholas Nehamas contributed reporting.
