Former President Donald Trump's campaign has reported raising more than $7.1 million since his booking at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia. Trump faces charges related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. The booking made history as the first instance of a former U.S. president having a mug shot taken.
Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung revealed that Friday alone brought in a staggering $4.18 million, marking the campaign's highest-grossing day to date. This influx of donations underscores how Trump's legal challenges have proven to be a fundraising opportunity for his campaign, despite significant expenditures on his defense.
The ongoing legal troubles have not significantly impacted Trump's popularity in the Republican presidential primary race. He continues to lead in polls, often outpacing his rivals by a margin of 30 to 50 points.
Following his booking, Trump's campaign swiftly leveraged the situation for fundraising. Even before his return to New Jersey, his campaign was utilizing the event in fundraising appeals to supporters. Trump also used his social media platforms, including his new Truth Social network and his reactivated Twitter account (now "X"), to share the mug shot image and direct followers to a fundraising page.
The campaign also launched a line of merchandise featuring the mug shot image, including items like t-shirts, beer Koozies, bumper stickers, signed posters, and mug shot mugs. The response to this merchandise and the subsequent contributions from supporters drove the campaign's total fundraising over the past three weeks to nearly $20 million.
Trump was indicted in August on felony charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, culminating in the events of the U.S. Capitol riot. Simultaneously, his legal expenses have grown, with his political operation spending over $59.2 million on legal fees since January 2021. Despite these financial challenges, Trump's campaign continues to capitalize on his strong support base for fundraising efforts.
