According to Politico, Donald Trump’s campaign is requesting Republican candidates and groups to allocate a portion of the funds they raise by utilizing his name, image, or likeness in donation appeals.
In a letter sent by Trump campaign co-chairs Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, Republican candidates and committees are urged to provide at least 5% of the proceeds from such fundraising efforts to Trump’s joint fundraising committee.
The letter specifies that candidates and committees employing Trump’s name or likeness in fundraising communications should allocate a minimum of 5% of the proceeds to the Trump National Committee JFC.
It emphasizes that exceeding this threshold would be viewed favorably by Trump and the Republican National Committee. Additionally, guidelines are provided to vendors to ensure that language implying representation of Trump by a candidate or group is avoided.
The letter asserts that vendors will be held accountable for any violations of the provided guidelines, with repeated infractions potentially leading to the suspension of business relationships.
The intent behind this directive, according to a Trump campaign spokesperson, is to prevent donors from being misled into believing that their contributions are directly supporting Trump’s campaign.
The spokesperson further emphasized the importance of safeguarding donors who contribute despite economic challenges, stating that unauthorized or unapproved use of Trump’s brand should be addressed to protect the interests of small-dollar donors.