In a first, former US President Donald Trump, on Thursday, was declared guilty after a gruelling seven-week hush money trial. As he continues his bid for the 2024 presidential election, the question on everyone’s mind is: Now what? Where does public sentiment lie? Is it with the current POTUS, Joe Biden, or with the embattled former president, Trump? Following the guilty verdict, Trump’s campaign donation page saw an overwhelming surge in traffic, causing a temporary crash. This surge in support, clear at the peak of the trial, has now turned into a fundraising opportunity.
“So many Americans were moved to donate to President Trump’s campaign that the WinRed pages went down,” Trump’s campaign posted on its social media handle. This update arrived less than an hour after the likely Republican candidate for president was found guilty on 34 felony charges.
Trump campaign issues fundraising appeal
Following the jury’s guilty verdict, the Trump campaign swiftly issued a fundraising appeal on Truth Social. “I’M A POLITICAL PRISONER! I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG!” the Trump National Committee Joint Fundraising Committee posted. “So I need 10 MILLION TRUE MAGA PATRIOTS to chip in and proudly shout: I STAND WITH TRUMP!”
Initially, experts believed that Trump’s conviction might diminish his popularity and harm his candidacy for the upcoming elections. However, according to ABC News, a survey conducted in April by CNN/SSRS revealed that 76% of Trump’s backers would remain loyal, while 24% might reconsider their support if he faced legal consequences. Another poll in May from Emerson College indicated that 25% of voters would be more inclined to vote against Trump following a guilty verdict in New York.
Chris LaCivita, the former president’s adviser, considered the crash a very good sign, demonstrating “millions of American patriots wanting to donate to Donald Trump’s campaign.”