Former President Donald Trump's campaign informed donors at a private GOP retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, that it had raised $76 million in April, according to two sources present at the briefing. The fundraising haul, which includes contributions to both the campaign and the Republican National Committee, comes as Trump attempts to close the financial gap with Democrats, who held an advantage of more than $25 million at the start of April.
The retreat, held at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, brought together wealthy GOP donors and potential vice presidential contenders, including Senators Marco Rubio, Tim Scott, and J.D. Vance, as well as Rep. Elise Stefanik, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. During a closed-door briefing, top campaign officials and pollsters told donors that internal polling suggests the campaign could be competitive in traditionally Democratic-leaning states like Minnesota and Virginia, although neither state is considered a battleground in the upcoming election.
In his remarks to the gathering, Trump lashed out at the felony charges against him and the prosecutors who have indicted him, referring to special counsel Jack Smith as "deranged" and an "evil thug." The former president also claimed that President Joe Biden is "running a Gestapo administration" against him, comparing the current administration to the secret police force used by Nazi leaders during World War II.
"Once I got indicted, I said, 'Holy sh**, I just got indicted. Me. I got indicted,'" Trump told the audience, according to a source in the room. "And it's the only thing they have. It's the only way they're going to win, in their opinion, and it's actually killing them. But it doesn't bother me."
The White House swiftly condemned Trump's comments, with deputy press secretary Andrew Bates stating, "Instead of echoing the appalling rhetoric of fascists, lunching with Neo Nazis and fanning debunked conspiracy theories that have cost brave police officers their lives, President Biden is bringing the American people together around our shared democratic values and the rule of law - an approach that has delivered the biggest violent crime reduction in 50 years."
Trump's remarks drew criticism from Democrats, including Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, who called the comments "incredible, but not surprising." Clyburn accused Trump of having an "understanding of this country that I thought we left behind more than 100 years ago," drawing parallels to the disputed 1876 presidential election and its aftermath.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who attended the retreat and is considered a potential running mate for Trump, attempted to downplay the significance of the former president's Gestapo comparison during an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union." Burgum said, "This was a short comment deep into the thing that wasn't really central to what he was talking about," adding that "a majority of Americans feel like the trial that he's in right now is politically motivated."
The fundraising numbers announced by the Trump campaign and RNC at the retreat cannot be independently confirmed until later this month when campaigns and political groups are required to file their monthly reports with the Federal Elections Commission. However, a top Trump advisor described the April haul as having "exceeded all goals."
