Trump pledges to match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $2 million in his first fundraising email 

  • Donald Trump is finally emailing supporters to ask them for campaign cash after weak May fundraising numbers
  • In Trump's first email pitch he said he would match up to $2 million in contributions to his campaign 
  • 'Help make history' Trump said, hoping this email would be 'the most successful introductory fundraising email in modern political history'

By Associated Press and Nikki Schwab, U.s. Political Reporter For Dailymail.com

Published: 12:47 EST, 21 June 2016 | Updated: 14:09 EST, 21 June 2016

Donald Trump is making his first direct email pitch for campaign donations. He is vowing to match up to $2 million in contributions.

The billionaire businessman had largely funded his Republican presidential primary campaign with his own money, lending about $46 million over the past year. 

As a general election candidate, he has been raising money from donors and is falling far behind likely Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

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Donald Trump is finally making his first direct email pitch to supporters to put more money in his campaign's coffers after trailing Hillary Clinton badly in the fundraising game 

Donald Trump is finally making his first direct email pitch to supporters to put more money in his campaign's coffers after trailing Hillary Clinton badly in the fundraising game 

Donald Trump is putting his money where his mouth is, by pledging to match all campaign contributions that come in in the next 48 hours 

Donald Trump is putting his money where his mouth is, by pledging to match all campaign contributions that come in in the next 48 hours 

Fundraising reports show his campaign began June with about $1.3 million in the bank, compared to the $42 million Clinton's campaign had on hand.

'This is the first fundraising email I have ever sent on behalf of my campaign,' Trump wrote in an email Tuesday. 'That's right. THE FIRST ONE.'

'And I'm going to help make it the most successful introductory fundraising email in modern political history by personally matching every dollar that comes in WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS, up to $2 million!' the email continued. 

'This means any donation you make between $1 and $2,700 (the maximum allowable contribution) will be matched, dollar-for-dollar,' Trump wrote. 

Trump has also purchased ad space on Facebook to make a similar appeal. He says he wants 'to beat Crooked Hillary,' but 'I need your help to do so.'

Trump is playing down his lousy May fundraising numbers, insisting that June's report will be better. 

Campaign officials say in a statement Tuesday that June marked the campaign's first full month of fundraising activity.

They say that activity will be reflected in the campaign's next federal fundraising report.

They also say fundraising 'has been incredible' and insist that they 'continue to see a tremendous outpouring of support for Mr. Trump and money to the Republican Party.'

Trump is facing a serious fundraising disadvantage against Clinton.

Donors gave Trump's campaign about $3 million in May, even though he enjoyed presumptive nominee status for almost the entire month. 

By contrast, Clinton raised $26 million.

Trump says he could have plenty of cash in the bank if he simply put more of his own funds into the campaign. 

Trump said he spent $55 million of 'my own money' during the primary season and said he may do it again in the general election, 'but it would be nice to have some help from the party.' 

He said Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus 'has been terrific' but he needs more help from other GOP leaders.

'I can just go my own route,' he said on Fox News Channel's 'Fox & Friends.'

Trump also told NBC's 'Today' show he's 'having more difficulty with some people in the party than I have with Democrats.'

Together, Trump and the Republican National Committee brought in about $18.6 million in May, including another loan from the candidate. 

Clinton and the Democratic National Committee raised more than double that.

Asked about this Tuesday, Trump that 'I understand money better than anybody and I understand it way better than Hillary.'

'I've raised a lot of money but you also have to have some help from the party,' he said.


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