Donald Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee reported raising $141 million in May 2024, a significant increase attributed in part to contributions following Trump’s criminal conviction on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. The conviction marked the first instance of a former U.S. president being convicted of a crime. A substantial portion of the fundraising, $53 million, was garnered within 24 hours of the verdict.
With more than two million individual donations averaging $70.27, around a quarter were from first-time donors. The post-verdict boost emphasized an increase in support for Trump among his base. Despite these gains, official Federal Election Commission reports are pending to confirm these figures.
In contrast, President Joe Biden’s campaign has yet to disclose its May fundraising totals. In April, Trump and the Republican Party raised $76 million, surpassing the $51 million raised by Biden and the Democratic National Committee.
Both parties have touted the fundraising outcomes as indicative of their respective political support, with Trump’s advisers framing the contributions as public disapproval of the trial perceived as politically motivated. Biden’s campaign, however, attributed Trump’s fundraising success to support from wealthy donors benefiting from his policies.
As the campaign season progresses, the financial dynamics between Trump and Biden will continue to evolve, shaping the broader landscape of the 2024 presidential race.