Paul Sancia/Associated Press
Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 2, 2024.
CNN
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Saturday’s big-ticket fundraiser benefiting former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party has raised $43 million so far, a person familiar with the details told CNN.
The event, the first major fundraiser for President Trump and the Republican National Committee since he became the party’s presidential nominee, will attract 100 participants. An invitation to the fundraiser lists former president and former first lady Melania Trump as the headliner for the Palm Beach, Florida, event hosted by hedge fund founder John Paulson. It is co-chaired by a series of wealthy Republican donors, including hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebecca. Oil magnate Harold Ham. hotelier and space entrepreneur Robert Bigelow; And casino king Steve Wynn.
CNN previously reported that the invitation to the fundraiser included three former Trump rivals who have supported Trump as “special guests”: South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota The state’s governor, Doug Burgum, has been named.
According to the updated invitation, prices for the fundraiser range from $250,000 per person to serve on the “host committee” to $824,600 per person to serve as the “chairman.” It has become. Top contributors will receive perks such as a seat at Trump’s table for dinner.
A Palm Beach fundraiser is raising money for the Trump 47 Committee, a joint fundraiser involving the Trump campaign, RNC and state party committees. It would also benefit the leadership PAC, which underwrites Trump’s personal legal costs and is part of the joint funding arrangement.
The fundraiser comes just days after the Trump campaign, where the RNC said it raised a total of $65.6 million in March, and the groups announced earlier this week that they had $93.1 million in cash on hand going into April. .
The announced totals show that President Trump and the RNC’s financial position has improved compared to the previous month, but the difference is too large to close the gap with President Joe Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee. confronting. Biden and the Democratic Party reported having more than $155 million in cash on hand as of the end of February, but have not yet released March totals.
This article and headline have been updated with new reporting.
CNN’s David Wright contributed to this report.
