Politics

Rants Revealed: How Trump Shakes Down Terrified Businesses With F-Word Tirades

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The president-elect’s fiery methods are reportedly paying off, with donations pouring in and his team pushing to raise $500 million by June.

Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks on New Year's Eve at his Mar-A-Lago Club on December 31, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida.
Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images

Donald Trump lashed out at business leaders in a furious f-word-fueled rant as he sought to rake in millions in donations for his presidency.

The former president, who is set to enter the White House for a second term next week, reportedly unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade as he spoke with representatives of one company who initially halted contributions to the GOP after the Capitol riot.

“You guys made this amount of money last year and you’re gonna make so much more now because of me,” Trump said, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing an unnamed insider with knowledge of the inner workings of Trump’s operation.

“But when I needed you, where the f--- were you? You weren’t with me and maybe you were with her,” the former president went on, referring to outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris.

In a meeting with a client and potential donor, Trump was reportedly seen “raking them over the coals.” He quizzed: “Where were you the last four years?”

The Daily Beast reached out to the Trump-Vance transition team for comment by email on Wednesday.

Trump’s fiery methods appear to have paid off—Axios’ insiders say donations are pouring in, and his team targets to raise $500 million by June, despite Trump being constitutionally blocked from running for another term.

“The money is just pouring in at Mar-a-Lago. Trump doesn’t have to lift a finger. Everyone’s coming to him,” a Trump insider said.

“We’re looking at half a billion [dollars] by June, and we’re on track,” they said. “It’s sort of a target but it’s just a realistic projection of what’s happening.”

Donors who hope Trump can return the favor by supporting them post-election are in for a shock, one insider told Axios.

“A lot of these guys are going down [to Mar-a-Lago] taking victory laps because he’s taking their money and they’re in for a rude awakening,” they said. “Sure, he’ll throw an inaugural party with their money but he owes them nothing.”

“He’ll take your money and then tell you, ‘I don’t give a f--- what you want.’ He did that during the campaign,” another Trump insider said. “He’s going to do what he wants, what the base wants.”

According to The Guardian, donors can pay $1 million to purchase two tickets to an intimate black-tie event with incoming Vice President JD Vance, and six tickets to a candlelight dinner with Trump.

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