Donald Trump only launched his 2024 presidential campaign on Tuesday, November 15th, but it seems like he is already losing allies, as some of the billionaire megadonors who helped him win in 2016, who also contributed to his 2020 campaign, are taking their money elsewhere. Yikes!
Donald Trump Is Losing Donors For 2024 Presidential Campaign
Stephen Schwarzman, chairman, CEO and co-founder of private-equity giant Blackstone, is now the second high-level Trump donor to say that he will not be backing the 76-year-old twice-impeached former POTUS, telling Axios: “America does better when its leaders are rooted in today and tomorrow, not today and yesterday. It is time for the Republican Party to turn to a new generation of leaders and I intend to support one of them in the presidential primaries.” Interesting! Schwarzman, who contributed millions to Trump’s 2020 campaign, didn’t say who would be getting his money, so watch this space!
Mega donors are suddenly turning their backs on Donald Trump. @m_mas tells NewsNation’s @TVAshleigh that “money often follows momentum.. It doesn’t create it, and right now, Trump doesn’t have momentum.”#Banfield pic.twitter.com/0WvuQlbXJi
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) November 17, 2022
More people whose money Trump can’t depend on this time round include Ronald Lauder, billionaire heir to the Estée Lauder fortune, as well as Robert and Rebekah Mercer, the top donors to Trump’s 2016 campaign. Mike Pompeo, another potential 2024 hopeful, tweeted: “We were told we’d get tired of winning. But I’m tired of losing. And so are most Republicans.”
Citadel’s billionaire founder Ken Griffin is also among the donors who have jumped ship, telling Politico that he will be endorsing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis if he chooses to run. “I’d like to think that the Republican Party is ready to move on from somebody who has been for this party a three-time loser,” Griffin said at Bloomberg’s New Economy Forum in Singapore, in reference to the last three election cycles. “For a litany of reasons, I think it’s time to move on to the next generation,” Griffin explained. And in terms of DeSantis, Griffin said: “Is he going to run? That bridge has to be crossed.” We wonder who will get his backing if DeSantis *doesn’t* run!
Concern Over Ongoing Support For Ron DeSantis
Trump has made no secret of his jealousy over DeSantis' popularity, as he has been raking in millions from wealthy donors who, according to Rolling Stone, are looking to support "a newer, fresher face." It's important to note that DeSantis has yet to formally announce his intention to run, so Trump's current jealousy is a little premature.
However, perhaps he is right to be worried, as DeSantis, who has been dubbed Trump 2.0 as he appeals to hard-right conservatives, has beaten Trump in several polls of likely voters sponsored by the Republican Party-affiliated Club for Growth Action. The state primary polls show DeSantis beating Trump by between 11% (Iowa) and 26% (Florida) with strong leads also in Georgia and New Hampshire.
'INCOMING FIRE': Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shares his thoughts on recent remarks made about him by Donald Trump.
"I would just tell people to go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night." https://t.co/KSi5vZn4PA pic.twitter.com/kWMovHltge — NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) November 15, 2022
Trump Slams Ron DeSantis In Lengthy Statement, DeSantis Responds
Trump dubbed his potential rival "Ron DeSanctimonious" in a lengthy statement, and called him an "average REPUBLICAN governor with great Public Relations."
DeSantis responded to Trump's attack by saying it was all "just noise." Referring to the midterms, DeSantis added: "I would just tell people to go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night," and called his victory in the race for governor "the greatest Republican victory in the history of the state of Florida."
Trump Loses Support From His Own Family
Perhaps most interestingly of all is the fact that his own daughter, Ivanka Trump, 41, who was a senior advisor in the Trump administration, has made it very clear that she will *not* be actively supporting her father in what will be his third run for president, and will instead take a very back seat!
Ivanka Trump has had enough of her father's, Donald Trump, political ambitions. https://t.co/4pMTUDXbzv
— SheKnows (@SheKnows) November 11, 2022
"I love my father very much. This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family," she said in a statement to Fox News, which she later reposted on her Instagram Story.
"I do not plan to be involved in politics," she continued. "While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena. I am grateful to have had the honor of serving the American people and I will always be proud of many of our Administration's accomplishments."
READ MORE: Ivanka Trump Causes Quite The Stir By Cutting Her Brother’s Girlfriend Out Of Wedding Photos
