In an unconventional move, Donald Trump's presidential campaign has turned to crowdfunding to support emergency relief efforts.
According to Newsweek, the campaign has successfully raised over $14 million through GoFundMe initiatives for victims of an assassination attempt and hurricane survivors.
The fundraising efforts, spearheaded by Trump's national finance director, have garnered significant attention and support. Two separate GoFundMe campaigns were launched: one for those affected by a failed assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and another for victims of Hurricane Helene.
Campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes emphasized that the decision to use GoFundMe was driven by Trump's desire to facilitate direct support from his supporters. Hughes assured that all funds raised would be distributed to those impacted by the crises, with no money being used for political purposes.
The Trump campaign has been forthcoming about the allocation of the raised funds. As of October 11, more than $6.5 million of the $7.7 million collected for Hurricane Helene relief had already been disbursed to various organizations. Similarly, a GoFundMe spokesperson confirmed that the majority of funds for the Butler, Pennsylvania shooting survivors have been distributed.
Notable donors to these campaigns include Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square investment firm, and Dana White, President of UFC, who each contributed $100,000 for hurricane relief. Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida publicly announced his $50,000 donation from his congressional salary for the Butler victims.
The campaign's transparency efforts aim to address potential concerns about the use of crowdfunding platforms for large-scale relief efforts led by political figures.
The use of GoFundMe by a presidential campaign for charitable purposes has raised eyebrows among some experts. Brett Kappel, a campaign finance attorney, noted the unusual nature of this approach, stating, "It's pretty unusual and actually quite odd."
Kappel explained that it's more common for candidates to contribute campaign funds directly to IRS-approved nonprofits during natural disasters.
Despite the unconventional method, the Trump campaign maintains that their approach allows for more direct support from donors to those in need. Hughes emphasized the campaign's ability to leverage its expertise in handling large accounts to facilitate these fundraising efforts.
While the campaign's transparency efforts are notable, some experts have raised concerns about the accountability of using crowdfunding platforms for large-scale relief efforts. Benjamin Soskis from the Urban Institute's Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy pointed out that crowdfunding platforms typically require less financial disclosure than traditional nonprofit organizations.
Soskis also highlighted the potential complications arising from Trump's past philanthropic controversies, stating:
It is a combustible dynamic when you combine campaigning and charitable giving. The extra dynamics of crowdfunding and Trump's own history with philanthropy itself adds more fuel to that fire.
In conclusion, Donald Trump's presidential campaign has raised over $14 million through GoFundMe for emergency relief efforts. The funds are being distributed to victims of a failed assassination attempt and hurricane survivors. While the approach has been praised for its directness, it has also raised questions about accountability and the intersection of political campaigning and charitable giving.
