Former President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign is making moves to ratchet up its fundraising machine following a disappointing collection in the final six weeks of 2022.
The Trump campaign and a joint fundraising committee raked in $9.5 million from Nov. 15 to the end of the year, which was markedly down from the $11.8 million raised during the six weeks between Oct. 1 and Nov. 15, when he debuted his campaign, sources told NBC.
His campaign has recently been growing its digital fundraising team to bolster small-dollar donors as he seeks to build up his apparatus in key primary states and could be eyeing additional vendors for the fundraising operation, according to the report.
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Most of the donations to Trump's campaign derived from low-dollar donations, with 291,617 people giving $200 or less, accounting for 99.48% of his post-launch haul. Prior to his campaign debut, Trump proved to be a financial juggernaut, with his Save America political action committee amassing a nine-figure war chest.
Since announcing his 2024 campaign, which came in the shadow of a lackluster GOP midterm performance, Trump has made sparse appearances on the campaign trail. Over the weekend, he made his first major campaign appearances of the year in South Carolina and New Hampshire.
"I noted weeks ago that if Trump wasn't holding rallies, which cost a lot to stage, it was a sign about his early fundraising. It will indeed not be a strong FEC filing later tonight," New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman tweeted in response to revelations about his fundraising.
I noted weeks ago that if Trump wasn't holding rallies, which cost a lot to stage, it was a sign about his early fundraising. It will indeed not be a strong FEC filing later tonight, via Jon Allen and @MarcACaputo https://t.co/9a6LmoSHN6
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 31, 2023
The proximity of Trump's 2024 campaign launch to the midterm elections may have hampered his drive for cash because post-election periods are often money doldrums for candidates. Additionally, Trump's campaign lacks a mail-fundraising apparatus, according to NBC. He has also been banned from Facebook due to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, which curtails another fundraising avenue. Meta has announced plans to lift the ban.
Unlike the 2016 cycle, in which Trump quickly emerged as the top candidate, bulldozing through the 16 other candidates more focused on attacking each other than the pack leader, he is expected to face stiff, protracted competition in 2024. His chief speculated rival is Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who has consistently polled as the most viable challenge to him.
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A number of prominent Republicans, including a majority of members of the Republican National Committee, have refrained from backing Trump as they wait for other heavyweights to enter the fray. The specter of competition could be incentivizing donors to keep their political powder dry as well.
So far, Trump is the only major candidate to have declared his campaign. Trump's campaign filing with the Federal Election Commission is due Tuesday.