Two hours after the news that Donald Trump had been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, the fundraising email shots started popping.
“I have a shirt just for you,” read the subject line of a post, which advertised a new t-shirt available to supporters for a minimum donation of $47.
“I stand with Trump,” read the tagline, along with the date of 3:30:23.
It was one of many messages sent to email addresses in a campaign database.
The date, one day before the federal deadline for filing financials for the first quarter of the year, added urgency to the push.
An email blast offered supporters the chance to get their hands on a new ‘I stand with Trump’ t-shirt with the charge for campaign contributions starting at $47
Republican strategist John Feehery said it would give Trump an immediate political lift.
“In the short term, it helps with fundraising,” he told DailyMail.com.
“Trump is again deservingly dominating media and from a political perspective this is great for Trump, and it’s all about him.”
Even before Thursday, the threat of an indictment had brought in money. The Trump campaign previously said it raised $2 million in basic donations the week Trump announced he would be arrested in the hush money investigation.
Donors and strategists said the indictment would give Trump a lift with his base, encouraging small donors to join his campaign, while his main rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, has lured big donors away.
Allies spread the word.
Senator Lindsey Graham used an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity to encourage viewers to give.
“DonaldJTrump.com, go tonight, give the president some money to fight these bulls***,” he said.
Trump’s lawyers said he expected to face charges in New York on Tuesday
The Allies said they had a plan to send out messages as soon as the charge came in. That included a barrage of fundraising emails as the campaign appears to be making money
A grand jury has heard evidence of allegations Donald Trump paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence on their affair
There they will see a message urging them to give.
We have a country to save. And I’m not giving up now — and I know you aren’t either,” Trump’s message reads
Our 2024 presidential campaign continues.
“As the endless witch hunts heat up, please contribute to defend our movement and SAVE America.”
Another email from the Trump Save America Joint Fundraising Committee walked readers through the likely steps of his arrest and quoted a New York Times account of how it would work.
“He will be fingerprinted. He will be photographed,” the report read. “Maybe he’s even handcuffed.”
Insiders said they learned of the charges through news reports, but added that they had already devised a strategy to get media coverage, with social media blasts and getting surrogates — high-profile public supporters — on television.
Senator Lindsey Graham used an appearance on Fox News to encourage viewers to give. “DonaldJTrump.com, go tonight, give the president some money to fight these bulls***,” he said
“We had a plan and the plan was executed,” says a source familiar with the schedule. “Take out surrogates, take out content.
“If you look at our war room and team Trump Twitter accounts, they’re all pushing relevant content.”
However, not everything was quite as expected. Insiders admitted they were surprised.
Trump’s attorney told Fox News that they learned of the charges from the New York Times.
“We’re always the last to know…always,” Joseph Tacopina said. “The New York Times told us today that he has been charged and we have received confirmation from the prosecution.”
Last week, the grand jury investigating alleged business fraud related to a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels appeared to slow down.
This week it appeared it wouldn’t sit for a month, prompting Trump allies to say the Manhattan district attorney was preparing to quietly suspend the case.