Trump, Falling Behind Biden in Fundraising, Turns to Major Donors in Bid to Close Gap

Former President Donald J. Trump is ramping up his fundraising efforts, leaning heavily on major Republican donors in March as he seeks to close the financial gap between himself and President Biden. New federal filings revealed that in the last two weeks of March alone, one committee backing Mr. Trump raised nearly $18 million, with most of the contributions coming from six-figure donors.

Despite the influx of donations, Republicans are still lagging behind. Mr. Biden and the Democratic Party raised more than $187 million in the first three months of the year, including $90 million in March, leaving them with $192 million on hand.

Top donors to Mr. Trump’s campaign included Seth MacFarlane, Reid Hoffman, and George Conway, among others. The reporting period also included a successful fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall, which brought in $25 million for the Biden Victory Fund.

Mr. Trump’s joint fundraising committee with the Republican National Committee, Trump 47 Committee Inc., reported raising $23.6 million in the quarter, with significant contributions from donors like Robert Mercer and Roger William Norman.

Overall, Mr. Trump’s fundraising efforts are gaining momentum, with his Save America joint fundraising committee raising $65.8 million in the first quarter of 2024. As the race for campaign funds heats up, both parties are pulling out all the stops to secure the financial backing needed for a successful election bid.