--- title: Trump Guilty Verdict Spurs Political Fundraising Frenzy description: Within hours of the former President’s conviction, Republicans and Democrats seized on the moment to solicit donations from supporters. canonical: https://time.com/6984208/trump-verdict-guilty-political-fundraising-winred-republicans-democrats/ author: Chad de Guzman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2024-05-31T05:50:00.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-24T17:42:20.115Z article:section: Politics og:title: Trump Guilty Verdict Spurs Political Fundraising Frenzy og:description: Within hours of the former President’s conviction, Republicans and Democrats seized on the moment to solicit donations from supporters. og:url: https://time.com/6984208/trump-verdict-guilty-political-fundraising-winred-republicans-democrats/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta508ed4c074f8b9b/698a576f457a52d4ebd6a5ee/trump-conviction-campaign-fundraising.png?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: trump conviction campaign fundraising og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Trump Guilty Verdict Spurs Political Fundraising Frenzy twitter:description: Within hours of the former President’s conviction, Republicans and Democrats seized on the moment to solicit donations from supporters. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta508ed4c074f8b9b/698a576f457a52d4ebd6a5ee/trump-conviction-campaign-fundraising.png?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Republicans and Democrats Try to Cash In on Trump’s Conviction ## Video: Donald Trump Convicted in Historic New York Hush-Money Trial [Watch (HLS stream): Donald Trump Convicted in Historic New York Hush-Money Trial](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Azy0GwKE.m3u8) (1:03)  _Published 2024-05-30. Donald Trump glowered, complained, bloviated, and snoozed during a trial both historic and tawdry over whether he falsified business records to cover up hush money paid to a porn star on the eve of the 2016 election. On May 30, the 12 jurors delivered their unanimous verdict: guilty on all 34 counts. To all his norm-shattering iterations—flashy businessman, name-brand showman, novice President—Trump has added a new title: felon._  by [Chad de Guzman](https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/)  ## Chad de Guzman Reporter May 31, 2024 5:50 AM UTC  TIME illustration; campaign email screenshots via X  by [Chad de Guzman](https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/)  ## Chad de Guzman Reporter May 31, 2024 5:50 AM UTC It wasn’t long after former President Donald Trump was [convicted by a Manhattan jury on Thursday evening](https://time.com/6983196/donald-trump-convicted-hush-money-trial-new-york/) that his allies and enemies seized on the verdict to try to raise much-needed campaign cash. [_Buy TIME's Donald Trump verdict cover here_](https://timecoverstore.com/featured/donald-trump-convicted-edel-rodriguez-for-time.html) Just moments after the former President and current Republican candidate for President was [found guilty on 34 felony counts](https://time.com/6980638/what-happens-if-donald-trump-convicted/) of falsifying business records related to hush money paid to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election, Trump’s social media platform Truth Social [displayed sponsored posts](https://x.com/verambergen/status/1796292587814322490) that called the trial “rigged” and asked supporters to “chip in” to send Democratic nominee President Joe Biden a message. “I am a political prisoner!” Trump claimed in the post as well as in [multiple](https://x.com/ByChrisBrennan/status/1796297572602274116) [emails](https://x.com/reesejgorman/status/1796332581874467226), including [one that apparently unveiled](https://x.com/DanteAtkins/status/1796367006264140186) a black MAGA cap to commemorate “this dark day in history.” > [](https://twitter.com/verambergen/status/1796292587814322490) The Republican fundraising platform WinRed, used by Trump’s 2024 campaign and scores of conservative candidates and organizations, [reportedly](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/05/30/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial/winred-goes-down-00160845) temporarily crashed within an hour of the verdict. “So many Americans were moved to donate to President Trump’s campaign that the WinRed pages went down,” Team Trump [said on X](https://x.com/TeamTrump/status/1796298491825881424). “We are working on getting the website back online as quickly as possible.” Trump campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes said in a [statement](https://x.com/MarcACaputo/status/1796307193303851162): “From just minutes after the verdict, the digital fundraising system has been hit with record numbers of supporters. The traffic is so large that it is causing intermittent delays. The campaign is grateful for this massive outpouring of support because it shows that Americans have seen this sham trial as the political election interference that Biden and Democrats have always intended. President Trump is fighting to save our nation and every level of support helps keep the fight going. November 5th is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict!” [_Order your copy of the Trump verdict issue here_](https://magazineshop.us/products/time-magazine-06-24-24-edition/?variant=40502483189818) GOP strategist Chris LaCivita [said on X](https://x.com/LaCivitaC/status/1796301926918725855): “If you are one of the millions of American Patriots wanting to donate to Donald Trump’s campaign and you get an error message from @WINRED …don’t give up! Log back on and try again ! or Text TRUMP to 88022 Help us send weak @JoeBiden packing !!!” Republican Senator J.D. Vance [posted on X](https://x.com/JDVance1/status/1796308114045624579) after the verdict: “The best way to fight back right now against the sham trial is to donate to the Trump campaign.” **Read More:** [_Trump Is Now a Felon. What Voters Do With That Information Will Write This Era’s History_](https://time.com/6984108/trump-is-now-a-felon/) It wasn’t just the Trump campaign that was seeking to turn fury into financial gain. The [National Republican Congressional Committee](https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/1796298609597763727) also sent out a fundraising text that said the “Radical Left will regret this. We’ll make sure of it,” while the [Republican Party of Iowa](https://x.com/LauraRBelin/status/1796329668016214388) sent an email encouraging “$34” donations. “With the verdict now I think you will have the grassroots absolutely unleashed,” Matthew Bartlett, a Republican strategist and former Trump administration appointee, told [Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/30/trump-fundraising-guilty-verdict-00160906). “While \[Trump\] was 34 counts guilty, you can probably expect $34 million might be pouring in.” But small-dollar donations are also being bolstered by much bigger checks written by the rich. Hours before Trump’s verdict was delivered, Silicon Valley venture capitalist Shaun Maguire said on [X](https://twitter.com/shaunmmaguire/status/1796293774794268747) that he had just donated $300,000 to Trump’s presidential campaign, adding that the anticipated felony conviction was a factor in his support: “I believe our justice system is being weaponized against him,” he said. Shortly after the verdict, former Rep. Lee Zeldin said on [X](https://x.com/LeeMZeldin) that he had just secured an $800,000 donation for Trump’s Joint Fundraising Committee, adding: “Never experienced a massive ask that easy.” To the Trump campaign’s chagrin, however, some Republicans [appear to be](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/05/30/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial/trumps-warning-00160930) rallying around Trump’s conviction to solicit donations just for themselves. Colorado congressional candidate Dave Williams, [Politico](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/05/30/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial/trumps-warning-00160930) reported, sent out a [message](https://mailchi.mp/fec7f5285c22/riggedguiltyverdict?e=7c4761bd0e) lambasting Trump’s conviction with a button that reads, “STAND WITH TRUMP & DAVE.” But clicking on the button directs to [William’s sole fundraising page](https://secure.anedot.com/dave-williams-for-colorado/trumpendorsement). **Read More:** [_Here Are the Split Reactions to Trump’s Guilty Verdict_](https://time.com/6984137/donald-trump-guilty-reactions/) Democrats are similarly trying to cash in on the conviction, clearly aware that it likely won’t be an obstacle to Trump returning to the White House. President Biden [took to X](https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1796292494151573855) hours after the conviction: “There’s only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box.” Biden’s post links to ActBlue—the Democratic counterpart fundraising site to WinRed. Biden’s campaign [reportedly](https://x.com/PhilipWegmann/status/1796377512039363048) sent a fundraising email Thursday evening with the subject “Apropos of nothing.” It didn’t explicitly mention the verdict but said, “We think today’s a great day to give to our campaign.” > [](https://twitter.com/JoeKhalilTV/status/1796374818192863716/) Democratic groups have also sent out fundraising messages. A text from Forward Blue, a PAC, declared: “Trump is GUILTY on all 34 counts! Rush $7 ASAP (400% MATCH) to help us DESTROY him in November.” The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee [posted on X](https://x.com/dccc/status/1796330449327034473): “In the wake of his conviction, House Republicans continue to support their convicted felon presidential nominee.” A follow-up tweet says, “Let’s get rid of these enablers once and for all,” with a link to a fundraising page for House Democrats. Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State and Trump’s Democratic rival in 2016, [posted on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/C7nHI4XRFVx/) a mug showing a silhouette of her alongside the words “turns out she was right about everything.” “The design happened to be finalized today,” Clinton said, adding that purchases would support “groups defending democracy” through the progressive PAC she founded, Onward Together. At the moment, Biden’s reelection campaign holds a money lead over Trump, with $84 million cash on hand reported at the end of April, compared to the Trump campaign’s $49 million. But Trump’s campaign has begun gaining momentum, [raising more in April](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-campaign-raises-51-million-april-down-march-2024-05-21/#:~:text=Biden's%20campaign%20reported%20to%20the,campaign%20reported%20having%20%2449%20million.) than Biden’s did for the first time this cycle and looking to repeat that feat in May. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6984208/trump-verdict-guilty-political-fundraising-winred-republicans-democrats/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6984208/trump-verdict-guilty-political-fundraising-winred-republicans-democrats/"},"headline":"Republicans and Democrats Try to Cash In on Trump’s Conviction","datePublished":"2024-05-31T05:50:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-24T17:42:20.115Z","description":"Within hours of the former President’s conviction, Republicans and Democrats seized on the moment to solicit donations from supporters.","url":"https://time.com/6984208/trump-verdict-guilty-political-fundraising-winred-republicans-democrats/","keywords":["Donald Trump","overnight","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta508ed4c074f8b9b/698a576f457a52d4ebd6a5ee/trump-conviction-campaign-fundraising.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Chad de Guzman","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta508ed4c074f8b9b/698a576f457a52d4ebd6a5ee/trump-conviction-campaign-fundraising.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"trump conviction campaign fundraising","caption":"","creditText":"TIME illustration; campaign email screenshots via X","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/donald-trump/","name":"Donald Trump"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6984208/trump-verdict-guilty-political-fundraising-winred-republicans-democrats/","name":"Republicans and Democrats Try to Cash In on Trump’s Conviction"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Donald Trump Convicted in Historic New York Hush-Money Trial","description":"Donald Trump glowered, complained, bloviated, and snoozed during a trial both historic and tawdry over whether he falsified business records to cover up hush money paid to a porn star on the eve of the 2016 election. 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