Trump campaign raises funds for hurricane relief, but usage remains unclear
Donald Trump’s campaign has launched a fundraising effort for hurricane relief, yet specifics on how the funds will be allocated are still uncertain.
Two weeks ago, the Trump campaign created a GoFundMe page aimed at enabling MAGA supporters to financially assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. Shortly after its launch, the page was updated to include a list of charities designated to receive the funds:
- Samaritan’s Purse
- Water Mission
- Mtn2Sea Ministries
- Clinch Foundation (likely associated with Clinch Memorial Hospital in Valdosta, Georgia)
Three of the four listed charities are Christian or Evangelical NGOs, which aligns with Trump’s criticisms of federal relief efforts.
As of Monday, the campaign has raised over $7.7 million. Major contributions include $500,000 each from Republican megadonors Steve and Andrea Wynn and former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler.
While some charities have reportedly received initial funding, the total amount disbursed remains unclear. Mtn2Sea Ministries confirmed it received $25,000 from the GoFundMe, stating in a Facebook post, “This is the only funds we expect to receive from this GoFundMe account and are very grateful for it to help us serve.”
The GoFundMe page’s latest update mentioned, “We have made an initial disbursement and will continue providing more funds as support continues to come in,” leaving the fate of the remaining $7.65 million uncertain.
During a recent appearance, Trump took credit for delivering “truckloads” of aid through Samaritan’s Purse, referring to its president, Franklin Graham. Samaritan’s Purse spokesperson Gabrielle Bouquet expressed gratitude for Trump’s support but did not disclose how much funding was contributed from the campaign.
Water Mission also confirmed receipt of funds but did not specify the amount. Trump has a history of using GoFundMe for fundraising, previously raising money following an assassination attempt in June.
A GoFundMe spokesperson indicated that the majority of those funds had been disbursed to families affected by the incident. While Trump’s crowdfunding efforts do not violate campaign finance laws, they are considered unorthodox. Campaign finance attorney Brett Kappel described the approach as “pretty unusual and actually quite odd,” noting that candidates typically donate to IRS-approved nonprofits.
Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, stated that the Republican presidential nominee aims to “help find a way for his supporters to give as much direct support as they can.” Despite claiming to have donated $25 million of his own money to hurricane relief, Snopes reports that there is currently no evidence to substantiate this claim.
