Trump's Guilty Verdicts Fuel Fundraising Surge, RNC Chair Predicts 'Big' Numbers

Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley says the guilty verdicts against former President Donald Trump in his criminal trial will boost fundraising for the upcoming election and energize the party's base.

In the wake of former President Donald Trump's guilty verdicts in his criminal trial, the Republican National Committee (RNC) is predicting a significant surge in fundraising for the upcoming election.

RNC Chair Michael Whatley told Fox News that the guilty verdicts have "awakened the MAGA movement like never before" and that the RNC has already seen a surge in donations in the days following the verdict.

"The numbers are going to be big," Whatley said. "People are angry about this politically motivated trial, and they're going to show their support for President Trump by donating to his campaign."

Trump's campaign has also reported a record-breaking fundraising haul in the first 24 hours following the verdict, bringing in nearly $53 million. The campaign said that the average dollar donation was $70.27 and that 25% of the donors were first-time contributors to Trump.

The Trump campaign and the RNC have attributed the fundraising surge to the guilty verdicts, which they say have galvanized the party's base. They believe that the verdicts have shown voters that the trial was politically motivated and that Trump is being unfairly targeted.

"Americans remember the roaring economy, secure border, and peace through strength at home and abroad under Donald J. Trump," said Trump Campaign senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles. "We will return to prosperity and success when he is re-elected in November."

The Biden campaign has also been fundraising off of the Trump verdict, but they have criticized Trump's fundraising efforts, saying that his billionaire friends are propping up his campaign to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.

"Trump’s billionaire friends are propping up the campaign of a white collar crook because they know the deal - they cut him checks and he cuts their taxes while working people and the middle class pay the tab," said Biden campaign rapid response director Ammar Moussa.

Fundraising, along with public opinion polling, is a key metric used to measure the strength of a candidate and their campaign. Money raised can be used to build up grassroots outreach and get-out-the-vote operations, staffing, travel, and ads, among other things.

While Trump has stepped up his fundraising, the Biden campaign still enjoyed an $84 million to $49 million cash-on-hand advantage at the end of April. However, the Trump campaign is hoping that the guilty verdicts will narrow that gap and give them a boost in the upcoming election.