REUTERS/Mike Cassese
- Since leaving office, former President Donald Trump has continued to aggressively fundraise.
- To entice donors, Trump regularly offers incentives to contributors — but they're worthless.
- They include trinkets, awards, and membership cards.
Since leaving Washington, DC, in January 2021, Donald Trump has lined the coffers of his several post-president political action committees — Save America PAC, Make America Great Again PAC, and the Save America Joint Fundraising Committee among them — with tens of millions of dollars, sometimes sending prospective donors two or three email and text message fundraising solicitations each day.
And now that he's running for president again in 2024, he's continuing his fundraising ways for his new presidential campaign committee.
To entice donors, Trump regularly offers items that might appear to have prestige and value. In reality, they have no discernible value and are largely imaginary. These include "Trump cards" that have no use, memberships to groups that don't meet, and even the chance to be included on a "donor wall" that doesn't appear to exist.
Trump's team did not respond to Insider's request for comment.
Here's a run-down of 20 made-up awards, prizes, and perks that Trump has offered to contributors during 2022:
Trump political committees
Offered to "LOYAL and UNWAVERING" supporters, Trump has yet to say what his "BIG plans" are for Trump premium members.
Trump fundraising committees
Seemingly similar to the "Trump Premium Membership," but with a picture of Trump using a telephone — and sent days before the former president's announcement of a 2024 presidential run.
Trump fundraising committees
The only thing this award appears to bestow on its recipient is an invitation to donate money to Trump.
Also, several Insider journalists received "Patriot of the Month" emails from Trump's presidential campaign in December, suggesting that a book-, cheese-, or wine-of-the-month club might prove more valuable to someone who innocently believes Trump really thinks they're a super-special supporter.
Trump fundraising committees
To commemorate Trump announcing his run for the presidency in 2024, Trump wants you to be a member of a "club" where member dues come in the form of a campaign contribution. What you get in return is not defined.
Trump fundraising committees
You will hereby serve as the secretary of the Department of Nothing after donating "ANY AMOUNT IMMEDIATELY."
Trump political committees
"ONLY top MAGA Patriots" may join the "Trump Alliance Club," according to Trump, although invitations were sent to anyone who signed up for Trump's email list.
Joining this club, the benefits of which are not defined, is as simple as making a donation.
Trump political committees
This Trump card is gold in color and personalized. But there's nothing it can functionally be used for: It won't get you into a Trump golf club or Mar-a-Lago, and it won't get you a senior discount on, say, a two-pack of Trump-branded sour gummy bears the former president's namesake company sells for $15 a pop.
Trump political committees
Just like the Trump gold card, but it's blue.
Trump political committees
Another card from Trump, this time to signify that the donor donated during an election year.
Trump political committees
The Save America Joint Fundraising Committee promised Trump would see a list of "ALL PATRIOTS" who contributed to join the "Trump Gold Membership Roster," which has no discernible benefits to donors.
Trump political committees
Trump has yet to use this "announcement priority list" for any updates on his presidential candidacy status for 2024.
Trump political committees
Back in 2016, Trump posted a video showing a "donor board" in Trump Tower in New York City. "The wall has only space for 2,000 more supporters," Trump said at the time while a fuzzy image of the board flashed on-screen. In the years since, Trump continued to promise donors inclusion on "boards" or "walls." Hundreds of thousands of people have since made contributions. But there's no evidence that Trump has created a physical Trump donor wall to honor his contributors.
Trump political committees
According to this fundraising email, it's possible for a donor to pay their way into Trump's "Inner Friend Circle" by donating as little as $45.
Trump political committees
For a period of "limited time," it was possible to join the 'Trump MVP roster" for as little as $25.
You do not actually receive a gold trophy.
Sorry.
Trump political committees
Earning an "Ultra MAGA Membership" is as easy as paying for it. Suggestion contribution: $100.
How is this different from the "Official 2022 Trump Premium Membership"? Perhaps only members themselves will ever know.
Trump political committees
For just $25, you can level up from your "Ultra MAGA Membership" and earn yourself "Great MAGA King status."
Although a solicitation pictures Trump holding a medieval scroll — "Your Name Here" it reads in Old English script — don't hold your breath waiting for a coronation ceremony.
Trump political committees
For $45, one could gain access to the "EXCLUSIVE Trump XLV Society."
Unlike, say, the National Geographic Society, there is no monthly magazine.
Trump political committees
If you honestly think your $5 contribution to Trump's PAC will buy you a seat at his boardroom table, please read this first.
Trump political committees
This club has one fewer person than a Trump 101 club and one more person than a Trump 99 club.
All are equally imaginary and meaningless, even if Trump's team promises that this is a "once-in-a-lifetime" membership for "devoted Patriots."
Trump political committees
As president, Trump fully engaged in the storied presidential practice of doling out ambassadorships to political donors. A seven-figure contribution to, say, a Trump-supporting super PAC might score you an appointment to represent the United States in some cushy country abroad.
But the only thing an "Official 45 Ambassador" designation will get you is a fast trip to Fakeistan.
from Business Insider https://ift.tt/RgjqM7c
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