Leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump issued a statement on Facebook Saturday denouncing as “illegal” a Republican National Committee fundraising email that encouraged donations to the RNC to get on ‘Trump’s list’ of donors that would be shown to him before the GOP debate in South Carolina Saturday night.
Image via Trump/Facebook.
Trump told supporters to not give money to the RNC fundraiser–and that the RNC has since withdrawn the fundraising appeal.
“The RNC, which is probably not on my side, just illegally put out a fundraising notice saying Donald Trump wants you to contribute to the RNC. “Get on Trump’s List” is totally unauthorized, do not pay! I am self funding my campaign! Notice has just been withdrawn.”
Trump also posted to Twitter about the matter.
"Get on Trump's List" email from the RNC was not authorized. I am self funding my campaign! Do not pay.
Email: https://t.co/6hKW7Ssxz4— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 13, 2016
The Trump campaign posted a press release to the campaign website:
DONALD J. TRUMP STATEMENT ON UNAUTHORIZED RNC FUNDRAISING NOTICE
The RNC, which is probably not on my side, just illegally put out a fundraising notice saying ‘Trump wants you to contribute to the RNC.’ The RNC does not treat me well and then they use my name, without my knowledge, to raise money for themselves. At my insistence, they have withdrawn their request. I am self-funding my campaign and this totally unauthorized notice is yet another example of deceptive Washington tricks used to take advantage of the voters and get money from the hard-working people the politicians have failed. I will not stand for it and neither should you.
Text of the email was posted to Free Republic earlier Saturday by an irate Trump supporter.
Before Trump takes the stage tonight…
GOP Friend,
Before Trump takes the stage at tonight’s debate, I’ll be giving him a list of his most active supporters within our Party.
Since you’ve identified as a Trump supporter, I wanted to make sure you had the opportunity to make it on his list.
Contribute $100, $75, $50, or even just $35 to identify yourself as one of Trump’s earliest supporters within our Party.
Trump could proudly see your name on his list of supporters before he gets up on that stage and fights for his platform in front of millions of Americans.
To send these lists over before the debate, I’m setting a firm 7 PM deadline.
And when I give this list to Team Trump, here’s what I’m going to say: These are Trump’s earliest supporters who have pledged their commitment from the very start Trump can confidently turn to them when he comes under fire and needs help …and every single one of them has already made a contribution to the nominee’s war chest Be one of Trump’s earliest supporters. Get your name on Trump’s list before 7 PM TONIGHT.
If Trump is our nominee, I can guarantee you that millions of conservatives will claim they stood by him from the very beginning.
But with your name on this list of early supporters — before we even have a nominee — both you and Trump will know the truth: that you stood by him before everybody else.
Show your early commitment and get your name on Trump’s list today.
Thanks,
Sharon Day Co-Chair Republican National Committee
"@Elvisfan1976: @NRSC stop sending me emails asking me to donate and get a free DonaldTrump sticker. I support him and he's self funding!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 13, 2016
“”@Elvisfan1976: @NRSC stop sending me emails asking me to donate and get a free DonaldTrump sticker. I support him and he’s self funding!”
Trump also retweeted a message to the National Republican Senatorial Committee to stop fundraising off of Trump’s name, something The Gateway Pundit reported about back in December.
No response from the Sharon Day or RNC representatives was posted online as of publication of this article.
UPDATE: The Trump’s List fundraising appeal is still live on the GOP website as of 12:50 p.m. CST.
Get on Trump’s List
Before Trump takes the stage in tonight’s debate, this is your chance to show him he has your support.
If you put your name on his list of active Party supporters, he will proudly see your name next to the amount you chose to donate to the nominee’s war chest.
Every candidate will be fighting tonight for a victory in South Carolina.
There’s never been a better time to show Trump he has your support.
Contribute before 7 PM ET TONIGHT:
CHOOSE GIFT AMOUNT”
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