He made a jaw-dropping announcement.
Former President Donald Trump hinted on Monday that he might dip into his personal funds for his 2024 presidential campaign, a departure from his reliance on self-financing during his 2016 campaign.
Speaking at his 40 Wall Street building in Lower Manhattan, Trump casually mentioned to reporters, “I might do that,” when asked about using his own money for the campaign, dismissing further inquiry with a curt, “It’s none of your business.”
Emphasizing his financial prowess, Trump stated, “I have a lot of cash and a great company. I might spend a lot of money on my campaign.”
Trump also addressed the recent ruling by New York Judge Arthur Engoron, who ordered him to pay a $464 million judgment in the state’s civil fraud case. Trump suggested that Engoron, along with New York Attorney General Letitia James, may be opposed to him utilizing personal funds for his campaign.
“They don’t want me taking cash out,” Trump remarked, indicating the legal challenges he faces.
These remarks came following Trump’s appearance in a Manhattan courtroom for a hearing on his New York criminal case, where Judge Juan Merchan scheduled the trial to begin on April 15. Meanwhile, a state appeals court reduced the bond amount for Trump and his co-defendants in the New York civil fraud case to $175 million within 10 days, down from the original $464 million judgment.
Trump had previously claimed on his Truth Social website that he possessed nearly $500 million in cash for his 2024 presidential campaign. However, he has not self-financed his presidential bids since 2016, instead relying on grassroots fundraising, including small-dollar online donations.
During this presidential cycle, President Biden’s campaign has significantly outraised Trump’s, closing February with $71 million in reserves compared to Trump’s $33.5 million. This fundraising gap widens further when considering contributions to Democratic and Republican party committees.
