Donald Trump's GoFundMe for victims of Hurricane Helene raises more than $2 million
WASHINGTON − Former President Donald Trump's fundraiser to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene has raised more than two million dollars as of Tuesday.
Meredith O’Rourke, the national finance director for Trump’s campaign, set up the fundraiser on the website GoFundMe. She organized a similar page this summer for victims of the shooting at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung confirmed to USA TODAY that the GoFundMe page is legitimate and authorized by the former president.
More: Tennessee factory employees clung to semitruck before Helene floodwaters swept them away
The fundraiser has received over 14,000 donations, with $500,000 from former Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Geeorgia, who gave $500,000, according to its page.
“All donations will be directed to help those most affected by Hurricane Helene," the page reads. "Any level of generosity will go a long way for your fellow Americans who are suffering.”
Hurricane Helene, which had ravaged southeastern states including North Carolina and Florida, left more than 100 dead and millions without power. More than 30 inches of rain were recorded in some areas of western North Carolina, with houses and communities swept away.
During a visit to Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday, Trump falsely claimed Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp had not been able to reach President Joe Biden about relief efforts.
More: They came to Asheville for healing. Now, all they see is destruction.
Yet Kemp himself on Monday recounted a conversation he had with Biden the day before in which the president asked the governor, "'Hey, what do you need?'"
Biden "offered that if there's other things we need, just to call him directly, which, I appreciate that," Kemp said.
Biden is scheduled to visit North Carolina on Wednesday, and Vice President Kamla Harris, Trump's rival for the presidency, is also planning a visit to the disaster area.
Harris received a briefing at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Monday.
“Over the past few days, our nation has endured some of the worst destruction and devastation that we have seen in quite some time," she said. "And we have responded with our best, with the best folks who are on the ground.”
Contributing: Joey Garrison, David Jackson, John Bacon and Sarah Honosky
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's Hurricane Helene GoFundMe raises more than $2 million
