(DailyVantage.com) – President-elect Donald Trump has proposed a surprising way to “unite” the country: by paying off the Harris-Walz campaign’s $20 million debt. Although possibly a tongue-in-cheek suggestion, Trump took to social media to encourage Republicans to consider contributing to help bail out the struggling Democratic campaign, calling it a gesture of unity.
Trump expressed surprise that the Democrats, who reportedly raised over $1 billion, would end up with significant financial burdens. “I am very surprised that the Democrats, who fought a hard and valiant fight in the 2020 (sic) Presidential Election, raising a record amount of money, didn’t have lots of $’s left over,” he wrote. Trump went on to suggest that Republicans could pitch in to relieve the Democrats’ financial burden, saying, “Whatever we can do to help them during this difficult period, I would strongly recommend we, as a Party and for the sake of desperately needed UNITY, do.”
Trump’s own campaign, he noted, has surplus funds, which he attributes to “earned media”—the free exposure he received from social media, interviews, and extensive news coverage of his rallies.
The Harris-Walz campaign’s financial troubles have led many to question how a campaign with such substantial fundraising could end up in the red. Trump won the election by a decisive margin, sweeping battleground states and winning the popular vote. Some of the Harris-Walz campaign’s high-profile expenditures are also drawing scrutiny. The Washington Examiner reported that the campaign spent six figures building a set for an interview with Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper, an investment that only generated 822,000 views. In comparison, Trump’s appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast drew over 47 million views.
Lindy Li, a fundraiser for the Harris campaign, characterized the campaign’s outcome as an “epic disaster” during an appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend. “The truth is, this is just an epic disaster. This is a $1 billion disaster,” she said, summarizing the disappointment among Harris’s supporters and donors. Li explained that donors were led to believe the race would be “a margin of error race,” leaving many feeling misled after their substantial contributions. Harris campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon had reportedly assured donors of a win, amplifying the frustration now expressed by those who backed the campaign.
The Harris-Walz campaign has yet to respond to inquiries about their financial losses. In the meantime, Trump’s “offer” has sparked discussion about campaign spending practices and post-election fallout across the political spectrum.
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