Trump Boasts $6 Million for Veterans
Billionaire personally kicked in $1 million
(Daily Mail) – Donald Trump told a standing-room crowd on Thursday that a collection of his wealthy friends have donated more than $6 million to his personal foundation to benefit American military veterans.
Rattling off a list of donors and dollar amounts, he wowed an audience at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa who came to see him instead of watching a Republican presidential debate hosted by the Fox News Channel less than 2 miles away.
‘We actually raised close to 6 [million], to be honest, and I have to say, more will be coming,’ he boasted. ‘I think this money is going to continue to pour in.’
By night’s end, he announced that the $6 million barrier had been broken.
But a Fox News spokesperson said Thursday night that The Donald, the GOP front-runner, had offered to come to the debate instead of boycotting it in exchange for a $5 million donation from the network.
‘Trump offered to appear at the debate upon the condition that Fox News contribute $5 million to his charities,’ the spokesperson said.
‘We explained that was not possible and we could not engage in a quid pro quo, nor could any money change hands for any reason.’
Others, it appears, were tapped to pick up the slack.
‘Carl Icahn gave $500,000,’ Trump said onstage of his longtime industrialist friend. ‘One quick phone call.’
And he announced his own contribution to wild applause: ‘Donald Trump gave $1 million, okay?’ he said.
Trump’s debate-free evening included cameos from ‘Diamond and Silk,’ a rapping duo of African-American women who support The Donald, and from a group of wounded warriors.
John Wayne Walding, a 23-year veteran who lost his right leg during a 7-year stint in a Special Forces unit, also took his turn at the microphone.
Trump introduced him as an ‘amazing’ sniper and sniper instructor who had been deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
‘I feel cooler than Burt Reynolds, being introduced by Mr. Trump,’ he said.
Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee, two of Trump’s GOP rivals, also showed up to show support for veterans.
‘We have an obligation to do something to make sure that our veterans have the best possible health care in the world,’ Santorum said. ‘Twenty-two vets a day commit suicide because of PTSD and related illnesses.’
Huckabee said that although he and Trump are fighting tooth and nail for the Republican presidential nomination, ‘tonight we are colleagues in unison standing here for the people who let us breathe every breath of free air we breathe.’
And besides, he joked, ‘I had nothing to do at 8 o-clock tonight.’
The two underperforming pols were part of Fox’s ‘undercard’ debate two hours earlier, giving them ample time to make their way to Drake University for Trump’s event.
The Donald called them ‘two amazing people.’
He had less glowing words for Jeb Bush, another rival who was on the main debate stage while his event clipped along.
‘He’s probably looking for me,’ Trump jabbed. ‘He’s saying, “Where’s Trump? Has anybody seen Trump?”‘
Other donors Trump bragged about include Ike Perlmutter, the longtime chairman of comic-book giant Marvel Enterprises, and his wife Laurie. They gave $1 million.
So did a Trump confidant who asked to remain anonymous.
Another $1 million contributor appeared on stage with Trump.
‘Donald and I have been friends for 18 years,’ he said, recalling a pledge he had made to support Trump’s presidential campaign it he ever ran for the highest office in the United States.
‘I gave him $1 million. He sent it back,’ he explained. ‘He said, “I can’t take your money”. I couldn’t believe it!’
‘In any case, he’s a great man, and I’m very happy. My wife and I will donate $1 million to your charity.’
The evening’s festivities were interrupted twice by protesters who shouted: ‘We love veterans! Trump loves war!’
Trump has become fond of calling himself ‘the most militaristic person’ anyplace he speaks – usually allowing for the exceptions of veterans in the room.
He previewed the fundraising bonanza aboard his private Boeing 757 jet for an intimate gathering of reporters.
‘We haven’t even started, already we’re up to $5 million,’ he said after landing in Des Moines, Iowa.
He said Fox had apologized to him for what he termed a ‘taunting’ statement this week after he declared that he wouldn’t participate in the event.
‘I got an apology. It was very nice,’ he said. I appreciated it.’ But Trump wouldn’t say whether it was Roger Ailes, Rupert Murdoch, or someone else at News Corp who offered the mea culpa.
But he was eager to talk about the money he’s collecting for wounded warriors instead of tussling with Ted Cruz and his other rivals on stage.
‘I’m putting up $1 million,’ he gushed. ‘I know my kids are putting up some money,’ he gushed.
Trump said he has ‘other friends that are putting up $200,000, $300,000. I have other friends who are putting up $1 million.’
He described them as ‘very iconic people. Great people,’ of the sort that he wants to put in charge of international trade negotiations if he becomes president.
Trump’s campaign hastily invited a handful of journalists to the airport tarmac just hours before he was to speak at his rally, which is being framed as a fundraiser for veterans organizations.
Earlier Thursday, the Donald J. Trump Foundation launched a website devoted to collecting money from the public, all of which it said would be funneled to ‘Veterans needs.’
‘This site, with small donations, already it’s almost up to $400,000,’ Trump said.
‘It just opened up a little while ago.’
Trump explained his rationale for skipping the Fox News debate, the final GOP smackdown before Monday’s Iowa caucuses.
Ailes, the Fox News chief, has called him ’many, many times’ in the past day to negotiate his return to the debate stage, he recalled, including ‘just two minutes ago.’
‘They want me there. Because they’re gonna – look, they’ll get much lower ratings,’ he said.
‘I would have loved to have been there. The problem is once you set up this major event, how can I be there? … It’s at the same exact time.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3422072/Trump-says-s-raised-5-million-veterans-including-1-million-money.html
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