Donald Trump raised £110m in May, helped by guilty verdict in hush money trial

Donald Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee say they raised 141 million dollars (£110 million) in May, a massive haul that includes tens of millions raised after guilty verdicts in his criminal hush money trial.

Trump’s campaign is not required to publicly disclose its fundraising to the Federal Election Commission until later this month. Its decision to release the numbers early underscores how it sees the wave of contributions as evidence that last Thursday’s verdict has energised the former president’s supporters and as a sign that it will not hobble his efforts to return to the White House.

President Joe Biden’s campaign has yet to release its own May fundraising totals.

It is unclear how much Trump and the Republicans spent in May, but the sum could help them close the money gap with Mr Biden which has persisted throughout the race.

Trump’s campaign said in a press release on Monday that it had received more than two million donations in May, averaging 70.27 dollars. More than a third of that haul — 37.6% — came in the form of online contributions in the 24 hours after the verdict was announced, it added.

About a quarter of the donors, it said, were new to the campaign.

Trump campaign senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said in a statement: “We are moved by the outpouring of support for President Donald J Trump. The American people saw right through Crooked Joe Biden’s rigged trial, and sent Biden and Democrats a powerful message – the REAL verdict will come on November 5th.”

Biden campaign spokesman Ammar Moussa said officials would “see how the numbers actually shake out” when they are reported officially, but added: “One thing’s for certain: Trump’s billionaire friends are propping up the campaign of a white collar crook because they know the deal – they cut him cheques and he cuts their taxes while working people and the middle class pay the tab.”

Trump’s campaign announced last week that it had raised more than 50 million dollars (£39 million) online in the 24 hours after the Manhattan jury announced its verdict, making Trump the first former president — and first major party presumptive nominee — in the nation’s history to be convicted of a crime.

He will be sentenced on July 11.