Former President Donald Trump's campaign raised eyebrows after fundraising off a Valentine's Day "love letter" reportedly from Trump to his wife, former First Lady Melania.
The message, shared by New York Washington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi, acknowledged the multiple legal challenges Trump faces, including indictments for election subversion, retention of classified information, and hush-money payments related to allegations from adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Trump's Valentine's Day letter, titled "This is a Valentine’s Day letter from Donald J Trump," reads as follows:
"Dear Melania: I love you. Even after every single INDICTMENT, ARREST and WITCH HUNT, you never left my side."
"You’ve always supported me through everything."
"I wouldn’t be the man I am today without your guidance, kindness and warmth."
"You will always mean the world to me, Melania."
"From your husband with love, Donald J. Trump."
You can see it below.
DonaldJ.Trump.com
The message concluded with a personalized invitation for recipients to send their "love" to Melania by donating to Trump's campaign, with suggested amounts ranging from $20.24 to $3,300 or any other desired contribution.
Melania, who recently returned to the public eye after a period of absence following her mother's death, has been mentioned by Donald Trump as playing a significant role in his campaign efforts to "make America great again."
However, it's worth noting that Melania has not been an active presence on the 2024 campaign trail, and it's said that they no longer live or spend much time together, with Melania spending more time with her small circle of friends and their son, Barron.
Trump and his campaign were criticized over the decision to tie the former President's legal battles to a Valentine's Day appeal.
To fund his legal defense as he grapples with a towering mountain of legal bills, Trump has consistently turned to financial contributions from his supporters. Over the course of the past two years, he has tapped into the financial resources of a political action committee under his control, the Save America PAC.
Originally established in 2020 as a rallying point for his baseless allegations of election fraud, this leadership PAC has remained predominantly fueled by donations from grassroots supporters. Even before his entrance into the 2024 presidential race, the Save America PAC was channeling funds to cover Trump's legal fees.
And these costs encompass a broad spectrum, ranging from federal and state inquiries into his business dealings to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, as well as issues surrounding classified documents following his departure from the White House.
While legal experts contend that this fundraising practices likely adhere to legal norms, it inevitably raises ethical concerns about the manner in which Trump interacts with his donors.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
@arianagrande/Instagram
@arianagrande/Instagram