Former President Donald Trump's fundraising efforts showed improvement in February, with his campaign and political action committee raising a combined $15.9 million. Despite this increase, Trump's political operation continues to lag behind President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party in fundraising.
Trump's committees ended February with over $37 million on hand, up from the $13.8 million raised in January. The former president's victories in primary contests further solidified his position as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination.
In response to the fundraising numbers, Trump's campaign emphasized the need for a return to 'America First' policies that prioritize national security and economic growth. Meanwhile, Biden's campaign highlighted Trump's divisive agenda, citing issues such as abortion bans, Social Security cuts, and support for political violence as deterrents to donor support.
On the other hand, Biden's political operation reported raising $53 million in February and ending the month with $155 million on hand, including joint fundraising efforts with the Democratic National Committee. Biden's main campaign account raised $21 million in February and closed the month with $71 million on hand.
While Trump's fundraising numbers are significant, they represent only a portion of his overall financial picture. The Save America committee, which has been covering Trump's legal fees, allocated 84% of its spending to legal costs. Trump's February figures did not include any joint fundraising with the Republican National Committee.
Following the exit of his major opponent Nikki Haley from the GOP primary, Trump's political team assumed control of the cash-strapped RNC and established joint fundraising operations this week. The full extent of Biden's and Trump's fundraising efforts will be revealed in April when additional committees are scheduled to file their reports.
