Helped by criminal trial, Trump crushes Biden in May fundraising

Zac Anderson, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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Getting convicted of 34 felony charges has been good for presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in at least one sense: It is helping the former president close the fundraising gap with President Joe Biden.

Trump and the Republican National Committee outraised Biden and the Democratic National Committee by a whooping $56 million in May, according to the two major party White House campaigns. Much of Trump's haul came shortly after his conviction was announced.

Trump and the RNC raised $141 in May, according to figures released earlier this month. That compared with an $85 million total for Biden and the DNC, the president's campaign said on Thursday.

FILE PHOTO: Combination picture showing former U.S. President Donald Trump attending the Trump Organization civil fraud trial, in New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., November 6, 2023 and U.S. President Joe Biden participating in a meeting with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 1, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid and Elizabeth Frantz//File Photo

The Trump campaign raised $34.8 million in just a few hours on May 30 after his verdict was announced in the New York City trial stemming from hush money payments to an adult film actress.

The outpouring of donations sparked by Trump's criminal trial has helped erase a major advantage Biden had in the race. The president raised considerably more money than his GOP opponent for much of the race, but Trump outraised Biden the last two months.

Biden and the DNC entered June with $212 million in available cash. The Trump campaign hasn't reported an updated cash on hand figure.

The May fundraising figures include money raised by the campaigns, their joint fundraising committees and the parties.

Biden's fundraising haul doesn't include $30 million he raised last weekend at a star-studded fundraiser in Hollywood, Calif., that featured former President Barack Obama, actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts, and other celebrities.

Trump and Biden will meet face-to-face next week on the debate stage for the first time this cycle. The much-anticipated debate at CNN's Atlanta studio on June 27 is a big test for both candidates that comes on the heels of Trump's upcoming announcement of his vice-presidential running mate and the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump is catching up to Joe Biden in fundraising