Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has reported raising over $7 million in donations after his recent booking at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia on charges related to his alleged involvement in overturning the 2020 election in the state.
This unprecedented situation, involving the mugshot of a former US president, has proven to be a significant fundraising opportunity for Trump’s campaign. According to spokesperson Steven Cheung, the campaign garnered millions of dollars in donations, with a record-breaking single-day intake of $4.18 million on Friday.
Despite mounting legal challenges and legal expenditures, Trump’s political capital seems to be on the rise. His strong performance in Republican presidential primary polls, consistently leading by significant margins of 30 to 50 points over his rivals, underscores his enduring popularity within his party.
While Trump himself described the experience as “terrible” and “not a comfortable feeling,” his campaign was quick to capitalize on the situation. His campaign immediately integrated the mugshot into fundraising appeals, tapping into his supporters’ loyalty and mobilizing them to donate.
Using both his Truth Social platform and returning to Twitter (now known as X) for the first time in years, Trump shared the image and directed his followers to a dedicated fundraising page.
This strategic move was followed by the release of merchandise featuring the iconic mugshot image, including T-shirts, shot glasses, mugs, bumper stickers, posters, and even bobblehead dolls. The depiction captured Trump’s signature appearance with his red tie, distinctive hair, and characteristic expression.
Despite facing legal challenges and controversies, Trump’s campaign has managed to raise nearly $20 million in just three weeks, coinciding with his indictment in federal and state cases related to his claims of election fraud in 2020.
The fundraising success contrasts with the significant financial outlay Trump’s political operation has incurred due to legal expenses. The campaign finance report revealed that since January 2021, his political committees have disbursed over $59.2 million to legal teams and law firms, a figure that exceeds his fundraising during the first half of 2023.
