For a staggering $924,600, you could have a “special evening” with former President Donald Trump, complete with “ultra MAGA” experiences. New York Times reporter Teddy Schleifer shared details of the high-priced event invitation on social media, sparking immediate reactions.
“What will Trump be doing during the final ten days of the campaign? Fundraising,” Schleifer wrote on X, highlighting the financial pressures facing Trump’s campaign. The event, scheduled for October 27, comes just days before the 2024 election. Both Trump and Senator J.D. Vance are spending valuable time in New York, rather than on the campaign trail, which Schleifer noted as a sign of potential money issues within the campaign.
That same night, Trump is also set to host a rally at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Critics have drawn comparisons between Trump’s rallies and those of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, particularly focusing on the theatrics and atmosphere of these large events.
The fundraising invitation offers various “experiences” for those willing to part with significant sums of money. The Team Trump 2024 experience costs $250,000, or for those who can raise $500,000. The Team America First experience is available for a donation of $100,000 or by raising $200,000. The more affordable Club 47 Experience comes at a price of $50,000 or $70,000, while the President’s Club Experience can be yours for just $5,000.
The invitation caused a stir online, with many mocking the high cost of attending. Former NBC executive Mike Sington commented on Trump’s need for campaign funds, jokingly suggesting that the “Ultra MAGA Experience” might include exorcism and quipping: “Trump’s desperate, he needs money, fast… it’s yours for a cool million bucks.”
Trump’s fundraising efforts come amid legal challenges, including his May conviction for falsifying business records related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The $130,000 payment, intended to suppress news of their alleged affair before the 2016 election, would have been enough to cover a Team America First experience plus six President’s Club experiences for friends.
Critics, like attorney Bradley Moss, also took aim at the timing of the fundraiser, questioning, “How broke do you have to be to fundraise 9 days before the election?” With the 2024 election approaching, Trump’s efforts to raise funds continue to draw attention, both for the high-priced events and the legal battles surrounding his campaign.