Despite the significant legal blow of becoming a “convicted felon” in the Hush Money trial, Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign appears unscathed in the fundraising arena. His leading super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc. (MAGA Inc.), disclosed a staggering $70 million raised in May during the trial, with plans to deploy $100 million in key battleground states this summer.
According to a memo from Taylor Budowich, the chief executive of the PAC, obtained by The New York Times, the funds are earmarked for intensive campaign efforts in the Rust Belt and Sun Belt. These regions are crucial as Trump positions himself ahead of Joe Biden for the November 2024 presidential election. Surprisingly, the fundraising surge peaked after Trump’s conviction, signaling strong continued financial support from his base.
In the days following the verdict on May 30, 2024, the Trump campaign announced an additional $141 million haul, though this figure will remain unconfirmed until MAGA Inc.’s finance reports are publicly released. This financial momentum gives Trump a significant cash advantage just five months before the U.S. elections.
Budowich’s memo emphasized that the verdict had little impact on Trump’s financial resources or his strategic positioning against Biden, whom he anticipates facing again in a November rematch. The funds are also intended to bolster support among Black and Latino voters, demographics that Trump is reportedly making inroads with compared to previous years, per Daily Mail.
“[Democrats] need to both solidify the blue wall states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, while keeping President Trump defensive in the Sun Belt states of Georgia, Arizona, North Carolina, and Nevada,” Budowich wrote. He expressed confidence in Trump’s performance in the Sun Belt, adding, “That doesn’t mean it’s a certainty — but we are well positioned.
That’s why MAGA Inc.’s summer investments will prioritize providing Team Trump with the most electoral paths to victory while narrowing the battlefield geographically come to fall.” Despite traditionally having a cash disadvantage, the substantial funds raised by MAGA PAC and Trump’s campaign could shift the financial dynamics in favor of the Republicans in the 2024 election.
Trump’s focus remains particularly strong in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground where Biden currently holds more support. As Trump awaits sentencing on July 11, 2024, the political and legal drama continues, with potential implications for his eligibility to run in the upcoming presidential election.