Trump campaign announces record $50.5 million haul at Florida fundraiser

By Fredreka Schouten and Alayna Treene, CNN

(CNN) — Donald Trump’s campaign said it raised $50.5 million at a Saturday fundraiser in Florida, a staggering sum as the former president’s political operation scrambles to close its big financial gap with President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party.

The haul announced by the campaign and top officials with the Republican National Committee far eclipses the $26 million that Biden reported collecting recently at a star-studded gathering in New York City that featured former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. The Trump total from the “Inaugural Leadership Dinner” at the Palm Beach, Florida, home of billionaire investor John Paulson sets a record for a single fundraising event.

“It’s clearer than ever that we have the message, the operation, and the money to propel President Trump to victory on November 5,” Trump campaign senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said in a statement.

Trump delivered a traditional campaign speech to wealthy donors at the fundraiser, highlighting core issues he wants to focus on in a second term: extending his 2017 tax cuts, securing the southern border, and ending Biden’s electric vehicle mandates, according to a Trump campaign official and a guest of the event.

The closed-door dinner, hosted at the home of billionaire investor John Paulson, signaled that some of the GOP’s biggest donors are rallying behind Trump as the general election showdown with Biden swings into gear.

Trump, who sat between Paulson and former first lady Melania Trump, spoke from the head table for roughly 45 minutes, according to the campaign official.

“President Trump spoke on the need to win back the White House so we can turn our country around, focusing on key issues including unleashing energy production, securing our southern border, reducing inflation, extending the Trump Tax Cuts, eliminating Joe Biden’s insane EV mandate, protecting Israel, and avoiding global war,” the official said.

The Biden campaign criticized Trump for the high-dollar fundraiser, saying he’s not fighting for ordinary Americans.

“Donald Trump spent his entire presidency lining the pockets of wealthy tax avoiders like himself at the expense of the middle class,” Biden campaign spokeswoman Sarafina Chitika said in a statement. “The American people deserve a president that fights for main street, not Wall Street.”

An array of wealthy GOP figures were billed as event “co-chairs,” including hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah; oil tycoon Harold Hamm; hotelier and space entrepreneur Robert Bigelow; and casino mogul Steve Wynn, according to an invitation obtained by CNN.

The price tag for the fundraiser ranged from $250,000 per person for those serving on the “host committee” to $824,600 per person to serve as a “chairman.” Perks for those contributing at the top level included dinner seating at Trump’s table.

But Trump has lots of ground to make up in the fundraising race.

Biden and the Democratic Party on Saturday announced raising more than $90 million in March and entering April with some $192 million in available cash in their war chest.

The Trump campaign and the RNC announced raising a combined $65.6 million in March and said they closed the month with $93.1 million in cash on hand.

The Palm Beach fundraiser collected money for the Trump 47 Committee, a joint fundraising operation that includes Trump’s campaign, the RNC and state party committees. It also benefited a leadership PAC that has underwritten Trump’s personal legal bills and is part of the joint fundraising agreement.

For its part, Biden’s team has said its early fundraising advantage has helped build a campaign infrastructure in key battleground states — including opening more than 100 new campaign offices.

The team has also highlighted its grassroots fundraising operation as a tool that can sustain the president’s campaign through the long haul of the general election. The campaign said 96% of its first-quarter donations were under $200.

This story has been updated with new reporting.

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