Former President Trump reportedly shocked billionaire donors by protesting a much-needed reassurance at a campaign dinner.
In an article based on interviews with more than a dozen people close to the former president, The New York Times revealed Trump’s comments.
About 130 people attended the dinner at the home of Howard Lutnick, Chief Exec of Cantor Fitzgerald, in Bridgehampton on August 2.
Among those in attendance were some of Trump’s wealthiest supporters, including billionaire financier Bill Ackman, who sat next to him.
While some guests hoped Trump would signal that he was recalibrating his campaign approach, he instead chose to revive false claims about the 2020 election.
During a roundtable discussion, Trump told the billionaires in attendance that “we have to stop stealing,” a phrase his advisers had urged him to drop, the outlet reported.
In an article based on interviews with more than a dozen people close to the former president, The New York Times revealed Trump’s comments
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the crowd during a rally at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona on Friday
Two attendees told the Times that Trump also brought up his comments about Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity. “I guess I was right,” they told them.
He also said that the media suggested that he had mellowed out after the attempt on his life. He said: ‘I have not become nicer.’
One attendee told the newspaper that Trump described himself as “angry” because Democrats had tried to bankrupt and kill him.
When asked how he planned to reverse the Democrats’ narrative and what his vision for the country was, he reportedly did not answer.
Instead, he went on the attack, criticizing Kamala Harris, then told the crowd, “I am who I am.”
While Harris appears to have overtaken Trump in key states, Trump has struggled to find a consistent argument against her.
According to insiders, he found the transformation after Biden’s departure confusing.
They told the Times that he has been shaken and changed by recent events, including the Republican Party convention.
In response to the change of rivals, he reportedly called Harris a “b****” behind closed doors, two sources told the newspaper.
His campaign team denied the language in a statement, but his rapid attacks would have left him vulnerable to manipulation.
U.S. President Donald Trump awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to physician Miriam Adelson, wife of Sheldon Adelson, on November 16, 2018
According to the outlet, just a week before the dinner, Trump surprised one of his wealthiest donors, Miriam Adelson, after an aide sent him a series of angry text messages.
The texts came a week after Adelson and Trump met a week earlier at the Republican National Convention.
According to the outlet, the texts complained about people who run Adelson’s super PAC, Preserve America, which is pouring millions into Trump’s campaign.
The texts stated that PAC officials were “RINOs,” Republicans in name only, and that her late husband would not have tolerated that.
Two people told the Times that Adelson later learned that the posts had been encouraged by another mega-donor, Ike Perlmutter, former Marvel chairman.
Perlmutter had hoped Adelson would contribute to a rival super PAC he supports, the sources said.
According to the outlet, the text messages have raised concerns that Adelson may be scaling back her support for Trump.
Trump has been receiving complaints from donors about his vice presidential nominee, J.D. Vance, especially after past statements by him came to light.
A number of previous comments have continued to haunt the Ohio senator, including one that the country was being run by “childless cat ladies” like Harris.
Trump reportedly dismissed these concerns, even after suggestions he would replace Vance.
He has confidentially asked his advisers whether they were aware of Vance’s comments about childless women before he was selected.
During a roundtable discussion at the August 2 fundraising event, Trump was asked why Democrats were portraying the duo as “odd.”
Two people with knowledge of the event told the outlet that Trump responded, “Not about me. That’s what they say about JD.”
Sources say Trump still has confidence in Vance but has instructed him to continue attacking Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Although he publicly claimed he would rather face Harris than Biden in the election, sources claimed this was not true.
He is also reportedly unsettled by the positive coverage of Harris, something he has never been accustomed to in his political life.
A number of past comments have still haunted the Ohio senator, pictured here, including one that the country was being run by “childless cat ladies” like Harris
While he publicly claimed he was happier to face Harris than Biden in the election, sources claimed this was not true
Tony Fabrizio, the Trump campaign’s top pollster, told the outlet: “[Harris] has received the equivalent of the largest in-kind contribution of free media that I have ever seen in all the years of running presidential campaigns.’
Shortly after Harris replaced Biden, Fabrizio stressed to his aides that the polls would fall against Trump before recovering.
He has consistently maintained that the race has not changed and that voters will eventually turn away from Harris.
Trump claims, without any evidence, that Biden regrets his decision to resign and wants to undo it on his platform Truth Social.
According to insiders, he has repeatedly said how badly Democrats have treated Biden and has complained about having to start the race over again and run against a different opponent.
According to The Times, Trump is increasingly interested in Harris’ momentum and is “constantly” asking for new polls.
He is also reportedly struggling with how to define Harris, what to attack her on and what nickname to use to belittle her.
Trump initially joked about her laugh, calling her “Laffin’ Kamala,” which didn’t catch on, before choosing “Crooked,” which he has repeatedly used against President Biden.
Key advisers have urged his campaign to focus on the economy, immigration and crime, areas where Trump’s message resonates well with voters.
Trump was tasked with portraying Harris as someone who changes her positions on certain issues and calling her “fake.”
Kellyanne Conway, who managed his campaign in 2016, reportedly told Trump to use policy contrasts instead of personal attacks on her.
Despite this, he called her “mean” at a press conference earlier this week and said she was “very disrespectful” to her Black and Indian heritage.
In a statement, a Trump spokesman said Trump “continues to run a winning campaign and has built a movement focused on making our country great again.”
Another added that Trump has presented a “positive” vision for the country, in contrast to the “dangerously liberal policies” of Biden and Harris.
Harris will debate Trump on ABC on September 10, marking the first direct confrontation between the rivals in what polls predict will be a close race.