Trump campaign raises nearly $35 million after guilty verdict through fundraising effort.

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign and the Republican Party have experienced a surge in fundraising following his conviction on 34 felony counts in his “hush money” trial. Within six hours of the verdict, they raised a remarkable $34.8 million, nearly half of what they raised in the entire month of April. The campaign attributed this impressive sum to small-dollar donors, with 30% being new contributors through WinRed, the GOP’s fundraising platform. While these fundraising totals are preliminary and will be verified in the FEC reports next month, the impact is undeniable.

Analysis by CBS News has revealed a pattern of increased donations to Trump’s campaign following significant legal events in his life. Key moments in his legal battles, such as his arraignment in New York City and the release of his mugshot in Georgia, have prompted spikes in donations. Trump’s fundraising also saw peaks following his indictments by federal grand juries in Florida and Washington, D.C., as well as after a judge in New York ordered him to pay substantial fines and interest in a civil fraud case.

In the wake of his conviction, Trump’s campaign intensified its digital advertising efforts, spending at least $94,900 on ads on Facebook and Instagram. The campaign sought to portray Trump as a “political prisoner” and decried Thursday’s events as a “dark day in America.” Ads carrying messages such as “I WAS JUST CONVICTED IN A RIGGED TRIAL” began appearing, with Trump continuing to denounce the trial as rigged and a scam during remarks at Trump Tower.

These ads directed users to WinRed, the Republican fundraising site, which experienced technical difficulties and crashed due to the overwhelming traffic following the verdict. Trump’s campaign and the Republican Party managed to raise approximately $76 million in April, surpassing the fundraising total of President Biden and the Democratic Party for the first time in this election cycle. Despite Democrats having more cash on hand according to FEC filings, the influx of donations post-conviction could help Trump narrow the gap.

Throughout the trial, Trump’s rhetoric has consistently framed the charges against him as part of a politically motivated effort by Democrats to undermine his campaign. False claims have been perpetuated, including the notion that the trial was orchestrated by the Biden administration when, in reality, it was a state case prosecuted by the Manhattan district attorney. Trump has capitalized on portraying himself as a victim of a political “witch hunt,” a narrative he has reinforced through numerous posts on his social media platform Truth Social and various ads.

Embracing this victim mentality further, Trump now implores visitors to his WinRed donation page to “NEVER SURRENDER” while displaying the image of the mugshot that previously garnered millions in donations. In response to Trump’s recent remarks, the Biden campaign has labeled him as “unhinged” and “consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution.” President Biden himself addressed the verdict, emphasizing the American principle that no one is above the law.

The ongoing saga of Trump’s legal battles and fundraising successes continues to captivate the public’s attention, showcasing the intense polarization of American politics and the fervent support Trump commands from his base. The intersection of law, politics, and fundraising has created a compelling narrative that will undoubtedly shape the political landscape for the foreseeable future.