Donald J. Trump, facing a cash crunch that puts him at a significant disadvantage compared to President Biden, dined Thursday evening with a small group of donors including hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah, according to two people with knowledge of the event .
Mr. Trump’s dinner companions also included entrepreneur Omeed Malik, cosmetics company founder Trish McEvoy and real estate management billionaire Richard Kurtz, one of the people said.
The Mercers, Ms. McEvoy and Mr. Kurtz did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Mr. Malik declined to comment and a Trump spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
The Mercers were a crucial source of support for Mr. Trump’s victory in the 2016 presidential election. In addition to donations, they pushed him to make changes to his political team, including by making Kellyanne Conway his campaign manager and Stephen K. Bannon his executive director . The family was conspicuously quiet during Mr Trump’s 2020 re-election effort.
But both Robert and Rebekah Mercer have lent their names for an invitation to a big-ticket fundraiser on April 6, along with Mr. Malik. And her appearance at dinner with Mr. Trump is further evidence of a rekindled relationship.
The dinner came at the end of a day in which Mr. Trump flew from Florida to New York City to attend the memorial service for New York City police officer Jonathan Diller, who was shot during a traffic stop in Queens this week.
Mr. Trump’s visit came at the same time as Mr. Biden prepared for a fundraiser with two of his Democratic predecessors, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, that raised a record $25 million at Radio City Music Hall . Mr. Trump’s team derided the event as one for elites as he was received by Officer Diller’s family.
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2024-03-30 19:23:20
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