Former Dem fundraiser named to Trump inaugural committee as donations flow

First appearance on Fox: Longtime Democratic fundraiser and Kamala Harris critic Lindy Lee was named this month to be a member of President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fundraising committee, a turnaround that has drawn attention from longtime Democratic donors. She says she was met with overwhelming support. Reserve a seat at the table.

Lee's appointment to the Trump Fundraising Committee was previewed exclusively on Fox News Digital. This comes just weeks after Lee announced his decision to leave the Democratic Party last month, citing a widespread culture of blame, vitriol and blame after the 2024 election.

Mr. Lee himself criticized certain spending decisions made by Mr. Harris' campaign, even though he raised millions of dollars for the party and donated several buildings in the Philadelphia area to the campaign. He has endured intense criticism and calls for him to leave the party. She also expressed concern that the party leadership “does not tolerate opposition or criticism” and has not learned from the crushing defeats in the House, Senate and presidential elections.

For Lee, his departure from the DNC's national fundraising committee was an eye-opener. She said in an interview on Fox News this week that she was approved as a member of President Trump's inaugural fundraising committee just three days before many events reached capacity. Securing a larger venue.

When she told donors she was at capacity, she noted, some responded by doubling their offers to gain access.

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“The demand is truly unprecedented,” Lee said of the response from donors. “To be honest, Biden and Harris never had this problem. They didn't have to turn people away.”

As first reported by The New York Times, FOX News Digital was told that a donor who offered to donate as much as $1 million to the founding committee was turned down due to space constraints. Since then, the founding committee said it is working to find larger venues for some events to meet intensely growing demand.

President Trump's inaugural committee has so far raised a record-breaking $170 million in donations, with proceeds funding both the inaugural weekend and long-term projects such as a presidential library.

Harris campaign continues to solicit donations weeks after her landslide loss to Trump

Lindy Lee in a 2015 photo (Charles Omany/Washington Post via Getty Images)

Donors can use their gifts to be part of the Inauguration Weekend agenda of highly exclusive VIP events, including intimate dinners, black-tie celebrations, and round-table meetings with Cabinet nominees, prior to the Inauguration Day ceremony. You will be able to access it. This is an opportunity to advance and gain influence in the next government.

And with President Trump's second term on the horizon, many people are shelling out big bucks for it.

Amazon CEO Jeff BezosMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are among tech executives who have announced plans to donate at least $1 million to President Trump's inaugural fund within the past month.

For Lee, a prominent fundraiser whose experience is primarily rooted in the Democratic Party, pivoting to raising money for President Trump's inauguration was easier than expected.

Mr. Lee previously served as a member of: DNC National Fundraising Committeea membership that requires raising “millions of dollars” on behalf of Democratic candidates.

Still, she said the founding committee's donation and the enthusiasm surrounding it were unprecedented.

“I've never seen anything like this,” Lee said in an interview about the funds raised, which is about triple what Biden raised in 2021, raising about $117 million. He said there is a possibility that it will surpass Trump's first inaugural committee.

The committee expects donations to reach more than $200 million, according to estimates shared with Fox News Digital.

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Former DNC finance committee member Lindy Lee speaks on “Fox & Friends Weekend” after the 2024 election. (Fox News)

Asked if it was difficult to build a Republican donor base less than a month after leaving the Democratic Party, Lee told Fox News that he deals with many of the same donors. .

“These are Democratic donors,” she said.

“They're still giving,” Lee said, noting they're not the most liberal Democratic donors he's ever worked with.

“They’re still very engaged and happy to come to the table.”

She said many people share the belief that Trump is “a great man.” business community” and I would like to use that as a basis for future conversations with the government.

And even donors who were put on waiting lists or turned away from the first weekend's VIP events due to lack of space have expressed interest in working with the administration in the future. .

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Just yesterday, one donor said, “'Even if you can't come this time, please let us know the next time you can show your support,'” she said.

Lee said the overall response from donors has been “overwhelmingly positive.” “The enthusiasm is just above the stratosphere.”