On October 2, 2024, the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump initiated a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe for the victims of Hurricane Helen. As of 9 p.m. that evening, a total of $3.63 million had been raised. Hurricane Helen has already caused at least 133 deaths in six states, with North Carolina, the hardest-hit area, reporting at least 56 fatalities and nearly two million households without power.
The fundraising page stated: “President Donald J. Trump has initiated this GoFundMe campaign as an official response from supporters of ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) to assist fellow Americans affected by the hurricane. After the storm, many people in the southeastern United States are facing challenges, and President Trump is personally assessing the post-disaster situation in various communities. All donations will be used to help the most severely affected victims of Hurricane Helen. No matter how much you donate, it is a tremendous help to those Americans who are suffering.”
This campaign has received support from Florida Senator Rick Scott, musician Kid Rock, and Dana White, the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), each contributing $50,000.
The current top donor is Steve Witkoff, a real estate broker in Florida and an old golf buddy of Trump’s, who donated $500,000 to the relief efforts initiated by Trump.
—
The article reports that Donald Trump, in his capacity as a presidential candidate, utilized GoFundMe to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Helen. The devastating impact of the hurricane led to a significant loss of life and widespread power outages in several states, particularly hitting North Carolina with a heavy death toll and mass power disruptions.
The fundraising page, spearheaded by Trump under the MAGA banner, emphasized the importance of community support in times of crisis. The president’s personal visit to affected areas and the call for donations of any amount highlighted the urgent need to assist those facing the aftermath of the storm.
Notable figures such as Senator Rick Scott, Kid Rock, and Dana White lent their support to the fundraising campaign by contributing $50,000 each. Additionally, Steve Witkoff’s substantial donation of $500,000 as a longtime associate of Trump showcased the solidarity and generosity of individuals joining forces to aid those impacted by the disaster.