The Daily Populous Friday June 21st, 2024 evening edition
Authored by newsweek.com and submitted by newsweek

Donald Trump's campaign has reportedly given more than $3 million to a mystery company this year, raising questions about the purpose of the money and the identities of those receiving it.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee is set to face the incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden in November's presidential election, and has stepped up his fundraising and campaigning capabilities.

As first reported by NBC News on Monday, citing campaign finance records, two committees associated with the former president's political campaign—the Trump Save America Joint Fundraising Committee and Save America—have paid $3.1 million to Launchpad Strategies LLC, a company that was incorporated in Delaware in November, according to state business records, and lists a Raleigh, North Carolina, post office box as its address in campaign finance filings.

There is no information on the company's website about its services or who runs it. Newsweek contacted the company by website form and a spokesperson for Trump by email to comment on this story.

In this photo illustration, Donald Trump is pictured on the side of coin. The presumptive Republican nominee's campaign has given $3 million to a company that does not disclose its owners. In this photo illustration, Donald Trump is pictured on the side of coin. The presumptive Republican nominee's campaign has given $3 million to a company that does not disclose its owners. Photo by Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

Liz Proctor, a spokeswoman for the North Carolina secretary of state, told NBC News that no company called Launchpad Strategies is registered in the state.

"This is a digital advertising company that is primarily focused on our fundraising," Brian Hughes, a Trump campaign spokesman told the network. "As you note, the FEC documents include their listing in compliance with our reporting obligations."

The revelations have sparked questions and concerns from commentators.

Speaking to Newsweek, Todd Landman, a professor of political science at the University of Nottingham in the U.K., said that the funding should be of concern because of the lack of information it provides.

"I do think that this newly formed company, the absence of any information on its website, and its receipt of over $3 million from the Trump campaign should be of concern, particularly since neither the company nor the campaign has provided any further information about its operations and services, or the purpose of the funding," he said.

"The use of the word 'strategies' in its listing may suggest it is providing strategic consulting to the campaign, but this remains mere speculation in the absence of any further information."

"It's concerning to see a company formed just six months ago suddenly receive over $3.1 million from Donald Trump's network of political committees, particularly since there is virtually no public information about this company," Saurav Ghosh, the Campaign Legal Center's director of federal campaign finance reform, told NBC News. "Who works there, what services they offer or have provided, and whether Trump's payments to 'Launchpad Strategies LLC' are for bona fide services or are, instead, actually payments to other vendors funneled through a mere corporate shell."

"Transparency about how political campaigns are spending their donors' money is vital to the integrity of our elections," Ghosh added. "Voters have a right to know how candidates are spending their money when deciding whom to support in November."

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Democratic group Occupy Democrats said: "What is this company and who is benefiting from it?"

The group went on to claim: "Something deeply shady is going on here and since it involves our presidential election, the American people have a right to know what."

OtherLevelJ on June 21st, 2024 at 09:04 UTC »

Questions like ‘When are we going to put this motherfucker in jail for the obvious shit he is doing in plain sight?’

Tballz9 on June 21st, 2024 at 08:21 UTC »

It is just money laundering and a slush fund to bribe witnesses and jurors. Nothing to worry about. /s

DuchessOfAquitaine on June 21st, 2024 at 08:13 UTC »

Saw a thing on Twitter just now with Lara declaring she has "Trump brain" so no need for spread sheets regarding money.