It’s no secret that there has been an unrelenting media narrative that portrays President Joe Biden having a pronounced fundraising edge over former President Donald Trump. However, the coming months could bear witness to a shift in this narrative, with numerous billionaire patrons ready to bolster Trump’s coffers starting from April, as per a report by Fox News.
Over the upcoming weekend, Trump is expected to be in Palm Beach, Florida, in the company of many major campaign donors at an ‘Inaugural Leadership Dinner’. This prominent gathering could potentially help narrow the fundraising disparity between Trump and Biden.
The dinner event will be spearheaded by hedge fund titan John Paulson, with assistances from financial magnate Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah, oil bigwig Harold Hamm, hotel entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, and casino kingpin Steve Wynn. Palm Beach is poised to become a political chessboard where the game of power and finances is played by these wealthy strategists.
In the past, Bigelow and Hamm had directed their financial power towards Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his presidential bid. A bid that ended in disappointment against Trump back in the primaries. Hamm also extended his financial support to Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign, Fox News reported.
Scott Bessent, who presides over investment firm Key Square Group and previously served George Soros as a chief investment officer at Soros Fund Management, will be co-hosting the event. Rumors have been circulating that Bessent could be a potential cabinet member should Trump emerge victorious in another presidential run.
Strategas’ Chairman and CEO Jason Trennert, applauded as one of Wall Street’s significant influencers, is expected to be present for the event. Other widely-recognized figures such as Chicago Cubs’ co-owner Todd Ricketts and New York Jets’ co-owner Woody Johnson are believed to be part of this crucial gathering along with Trump’s former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
Donations to this event are structured in tiers, with the highest being the ‘Chairman Level’, boasting a price tag of $824,600. This privileged position entitles the donor a seat at the power table with the former President himself.
Biden’s recent fundraising effort reportedly managed to pool around $26 million through a glitzy New York fundraiser. However, it wasn’t without controversy. He skipped the funeral of a martyred police officer to attend this fundraiser, which proved a contentious choice.
This decision was significantly underscored by the solemn occasion in New York City, where thousands of NYPD officers assembled near the St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church to offer a last salute to Officer Jonathan Diller. The fallen hero, only 31, was tragically killed in the line of duty during a routine traffic stop by a habitual felon in Queens.
Images from the event showcased an impassive sea of NYPD uniforms, honoring the fallen officer in a poignant demonstration of unity. Diller’s demise left his young wife and one-year-old son in unthinkable grief. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Trump made a generous contribution to the Tunnel to Towers charity in order to pay off Diller’s family’s mortgage.
In a touching posthumous honor, Officer Diller was elevated to Detective First Grade, with Commissioner Edward Caban assigning him symbolic shield No. 110, representing his young son’s birthday.
While Biden, joined by former Presidents Obama and Clinton, was in New York City for a lucrative, celebrity-filled fundraiser, Trump was present at the wake of Detective Diller. This contrast was not lost on critics who pointed out Biden’s apparent lack of contact with the distraught Diller family.
Conservative commentator William Kristol highlighted this stark divergence, remarking that Biden’s choice to attend a ‘fancy NYC fundraiser’ amidst chaotic protests reeked of ‘limousine liberalism’ whereas Trump was honoring an NYPD officer who made the ultimate sacrifice.
In what he deemed an ‘unfortunate day politically for the Democrats’, Kristol further noted the unfortunate optics of Biden’s star-laden fundraiser being marred by unruly protestors both inside and outside the venue, leading to skirmishes with the NYPD.
Thus, the stage is set for a riveting unfolding of events in the political fundraising landscape. Will the backing of Trump by these billionaire figures shift the tide of favor? Only time will tell.
