Trump pulled in more than $35 million in the second quarter

Donald Trump nearly doubled his fundraising during the second quarter of 2023 — an indication that his legal troubles are propelling his campaign financially.

The former president’s joint fundraising committee raked in more than $35 million, according to a campaign official. That figure is about twice the $18.8 million the committee raised during the first quarter of the year. The joint fundraising committee is split between two entities: Trump’s official campaign, and his leadership political action committee, Save America.

The official did not break down how much of the $35 million-plus went to the campaign and how much went to the PAC. But the most recent fundraising solicitations direct 90 percent of each donation to the former and the remaining 10 percent to the latter. The PAC focuses its spending on non-campaign activity, including paying the former president’s legal bills.

The total amount raised is likely to further cement Trump’s status as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. It also underscores that the twin indictments he’s facing — with the possibility of more to come — are mobilizing his base of online donors. The average donation was $34.20, according to his campaign.

The campaign’s full filing is set to be released through the Federal Election Commission later this month. Prior to then, Trump’s campaign declined to say how much cash he currently has on hand.

But the campaign has been fundraising heavily around Trump’s legal cases. After he was indicted last month over allegations that he mishandled classified documents, the campaign sent out an appeal asking supporters to “make a contribution to peacefully DEFEND our movement from the never-ending witch hunts.”

Another solicitation asked supporters to “prove that YOU will NEVER surrender our country to the radical Left.”

The former president has also been wooing large donors. Last month, the campaign hosted its first in-person fundraiser at his Bedminster, N.J. golf club, the same evening he was arraigned in the documents case.

Trump is the first major candidate to release his second quarter fundraising totals. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump’s main rival for the Republican nomination, raised $8.2 million in the first 24 hours after his late May launch, though his campaign has not said how much he has raised since.