White House moneymen: Inside the Trump-DeSantis war for donors in 2024

The battle for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 is heating up, with former President Donald Trump’s top donors throwing their weight behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Despite Trump’s recent verbal attacks on DeSantis, calling him “Meatball Ron” and claiming he has “collapsing numbers,” some of the biggest names in Republican fundraising are backing the Florida governor. This sets the stage for a major campaign finance battle that could help tip the GOP primary. “If DeSantis aims to be seen as the only viable Trump alternative, massive fundraising hauls for him and his outside allies are one of the clearest ways to claim that mantle,” says senior Republican strategist Zach Hunter. While Trump currently leads the pack in polling, major donors can begin laying the groundwork for their preferred candidate early on. Stay tuned for more updates on the 2024 presidential race.Exciting news for Ron DeSantis supporters! Billionaire Robert Bigelow has already poured $20 million into the pro-DeSantis super PAC, Never Back Down. Led by ex-Trump Department of Homeland Security official Ken Cuccinelli and staffed by former Trump 2020 campaign spokespeople Erin Perrine and Matt Wolking, this PAC is gaining serious momentum. Bigelow was previously a Trump supporter, but after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, he switched his allegiance to DeSantis. He’s not the only one, either. Citadel CEO and hedge fund manager billionaire Ken Griffin has donated $5 million to DeSantis’ state committee and has said he “would love to see” DeSantis run. Don Tapia, the former U.S. ambassador to Jamaica under Trump, has also jumped ship for DeSantis. However, not all wealthy Republicans are on board with DeSantis. Some, like Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, businessman Andy Sabin, and philanthropist Ronald Lauder, have already said they will not support Trump in 2024. It’s clear that there’s a donor rift among Republicans, but DeSantis is gaining some serious financial backing. Will it be enough to secure his victory in 2024? Only time will tell.Big-name donors are lining up behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as he considers a presidential run in 2024. According to filings, donors have contributed over $220,000 to Trump Victory, a joint fundraising committee, after prior donations to boost former President Trump. However, DeSantis has also faced backlash from certain donors over his retaliation against Disney for slamming his Parental Rights in Education Act, which seeks to restrict gender-based curricula in Florida schools. Billionaires, like Thomas Peterffy, have said they will move money away from DeSantis over his big government policies. Despite this, a senior and longtime Trumpworld operative believes that DeSantis’s big-dollar base won’t define the primary race, as Trump’s small-dollar donor base can compete. Never Back Down, the super PAC trying to will DeSantis to the presidency, has also noted that Trump’s fundraising abilities have deteriorated significantly since 2020.

Love him or hate him, Donald Trump continues to be a major force in American politics. While some wealthy businessmen may be turning their backs on him, he still has the support of dozens of federal Republican lawmakers, including some big names like Sens. Marsha Blackburn, Eric Schmitt, and Bill Hagerty, as well as Reps. Jim Banks, Byron Donalds, Carlos Gimenez, and Diana Harshbarger.

And it’s not just politicians who are backing Trump. The pro-Trump 2024 super PAC Make America Great Again Inc. recently received a whopping $1.8 million in donations from some heavy hitters, including Dallas banker Andy Beal, recycling mogul Anthony Lomangino, and Timothy Mellon, chairman of the Florida-based rail transport corporation Pan Am Systems.

It’s clear that Trump still has a lot of support, both in the political arena and among wealthy donors. And with the 2024 election on the horizon, it will be interesting to see how this support translates into votes.

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