NEWSWEEK
An online fundraiser for former President Donald Trump has racked up $84,354 out of a $355 million target in just 24 hours following the final judgement in his civil fraud trial in New York.
On Friday, Trump was fined roughly $355 million by New York Judge Arthur Engoron following a monthslong trial. The trial was to determine how much Trump and his associates would pay after New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit in September 2022 accusing the former president, his two adult sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, The Trump Organization and two firm executives, Allen Weisselberg and Jeff McConney of fraudulently overvaluing assets to secure more favorable bank loans and taxation deals.
The former president was also barred from doing business in New York for three years. Other defendants in the case also faced financial penalties and were banned from doing business in New York for periods of time. Meanwhile, Trump, who is the GOP frontrunner in the 2024 presidential election, has denied any wrongdoing and claims the case was politically motivated.
Elena Cardone, the wife of real estate businessman Grant Cardone, made a GoFundMe page titled, “Stand with Trump; Fund the $355M Unjust Judgment” following Engoron’s ruling.
Within 24 hours, the GoFundMe page has raised $84,354 from 2,170 donations. The highest donation, which was sent anonymously, was for $2,500. There were also quite a few $100 donations and some $200 donations. Meanwhile, others donated smaller amounts like $5 to $25.
Newsweek reached out to Trump’s campaign via email and Cardone via GoFundMe for comment.
Cardone called herself “an ardent supporter of American values and an advocate for justice” who stands “unwaveringly with President Donald Trump” on the fundraising page.
“Now, more than ever, it’s time for business owners and entrepreneurs to unite, to show our collective strength and resolve,” she wrote. “Let’s stand with Trump to ensure that justice prevails and that we continue to fight for a country that respects freedom, honors courage, and rewards the unwavering spirit of its people.”
Meanwhile, Trump called Engoron “crooked” and James “totally corrupt” in a Truth Social post on Friday. His lawyer Christopher Kise told Newsweek that Trump plans to appeal the judge’s ruling in James’ “unjust political crusade against the front-running candidate for President of the United States.”
Meanwhile, James called the judge’s ruling “a massive victory” in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday. She wrote in a follow-post: “No matter how big, how rich, or how powerful you are, no one is above the law. Not even Donald Trump.”
Some donors left notes on Cardone’s GoFundMe page, saying things like “Trump 2024!” and “Make America Righteous Again,” which is a spin on Trump’s campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” or MAGA.
Meanwhile, some people on social media mocked the fundraising effort.
“Wait… Wut.. Donald Trump, a supposed billionaire business man has a GoFundMe page??” asked X user @lflorepolitics. “The only thing more pathetic than this are his cult members who will actually help fund him by sending him money. Sad!”
“Let me get this straight, someone started a GoFundMe for the over $300 million that Trump owes, and people have actually contributed to it?” X user @BlueOC1981 wrote. “My god, the MAGAs are truly some of the dumbest people on this planet.”
