GET ME REWRITE: Trump repeatedly picks the pockets of his supporters

 

Headline from New York Times, 4/3/2021

MSNBC called it in November

It's effectively a scam wrapped in a scam. Team Trump starts by falsely telling its followers that there's an election conspiracy -- indeed, the campaign has sent dozens of messages along these lines to donors in recent days -- which it then follows by encouraging supporters to help combat the made-up conspiracy by sending the president's political operation some money.

But those who grab their wallets probably won't realize that their money may not go toward election lawsuits at all, despite Team Trump's deceptive pitch. 

[snip]

For example, if you were inclined to believe the president's ridiculous election conspiracy theories and decided to send his operation $1,000 to help support his "Official Election Defense Fund," $600 of your contribution would go toward Trump's new political action committee, called "Save America." The Republican National Committee would get the other $400.

At the time, though, they didn't realize just how sleazy and cynical it was.