Trump earns $18 million in online donations within a day of the debate

Trump speaks to supporters after the presidential debate.

(Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

published 28 September 2016

Donald Trump's campaign boasts Trump earned $18 million in online donations within 24 hours of the debate, a marked shift from his strategy in the primaries, when he emphasized his independence from donors, Politico reports. Still, Trump has broken Republican records for small-donor fundraising throughout the general election.

Many mega-donors are still hesitant to have their name associated with Trump, leading to greater appeal for nonprofit groups that allow unlimited donations and are not required to release donors' names. One such group is 45Committee, controlled by former Never Trump founder Todd Ricketts, whose family owns the Chicago Cubs.

"There is a substantial appetite for a non-disclosing vehicle, because it's embarrassing to support Trump. There are more donors who are willing to support Donald anonymously than with their names on it," a fundraiser familiar with Ricketts' efforts told Politico.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.