Donald Trump has a new grift.
In recent weeks, he’s has been flying all over the country in his private plane, Trump Force One, giving speeches and trying out a shady new fundraising strategy on unsuspecting superfans.
The ex-president has been offering anyone who gives any amount to his PAC, Save America, the chance at a vacation getaway. That’s right, Team Trump is offering people sweepstakes as an incentive to give their hard-earned money to his scam political operation.
In the weeks leading up to his recent appearance in New Orleans, Trump sent over 15 bulk emails to small-dollar donors across the country offering them the chance at dinner with the him in the Big Easy.
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“We booked you a plane ticket,” one of the message said, along with a photo of Trump photoshopped in the French Quarter. “Contribute ANY AMOUNT RIGHT NOW to be automatically entered to have dinner with President Trump in New Orleans.”
And now, the grift.
After taking people’s cash, Trump never followed through with his promise to select someone to wine and dine in the French Quarter. Instead, he took the money and ran. Or rather, he flew… on his private plane that almost crashed shortly after takeoff because of engine failure.
The Washington Post reports:
But no such winner was flown to New Orleans last weekend, according to four people familiar with the matter. No flight or “very nice” hotel was booked. Trump had no individual meeting with a small-dollar donor, instead only privately greeting a handful of Republican Party donors who gave large checks, taking pictures with some of the party’s most well-heeled members and speaking to a larger group of donors who each gave tens of thousands of dollars.
The email pitches probably raised a sizable sum for Save America. Some similar contests to meet Trump have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to people involved.
Trump initially said he would pick a New Orleans sweepstakes winner by February 28. That never happened. Now, a spokesperson chalked the whole thing up to an “administrative error.”
In a statement released on Friday, Taylor Budowich said: “President Trump has awarded more than 100 prizes to contest winners across America, but due to an administrative error in this individual circumstance, the contest winner was not properly notified for last weekend’s event in New Orleans. Consistent with the rules of the sweepstakes, a substitute prize will be awarded to the winner.”
Budowich didn’t specify what the substitute prize would be, but the official contest rules state it should be of “greater or equal value.” He also would not say how much money the New Orleans contest raised or how winners would be chosen and notified.
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“We protect the privacy of participants, given the hostility and intimidation tactics often used against supporters of President Trump,” he remarked.
According to former federal prosecutor Peter R. Zeidenberg, if Team Trump knowingly took people’s money without ever intending on honoring the sweepstake, that would be illegal.
“If, on the other hand, they had planned a dinner but it fell through, then that’s definitely not a crime,” he tells the Washington Post.
Here’s what people on Twitter are saying…
No dinner with trump? Looks like everybody won.
— Mike Paroulek (@mike_paroulek) March 12, 2022
OMG! This makes me question whether Lara and Eric Trump really did spend dinner talking about me, like “Lara Trump” told me.
It’s almost as if the Trumps all lie to trick people out of their money. pic.twitter.com/goa1qmabyu
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) March 12, 2022
“Administrative error” = “we got caught”
— sprnt817 (@sprnt817) March 12, 2022
Except they apparently had the same “administrative error” every time they did this.
It’s something you can google— CarolT (@caroltracy8) March 12, 2022
“it was an “administrative error” that the prize was never awarded” pic.twitter.com/w2vYBxRRBU
— NotATweeter16 (@NotATweeter16) March 12, 2022
So then they gave all the money back?🤔
— Bitch Means Well 🇺🇦🌻🇺🇦 (@BitchMeansWell) March 12, 2022
An “administrative error” is how he was elected. The electoral college is that administrative error
— robert (@Robert_Roy_A) March 12, 2022
This has been a recurring scam. I get the emails. Has anyone ever won?
— Boris Trump (@BorisTrump6) March 12, 2022
Not true, the winners never showed up. pic.twitter.com/4mfgiKXGQ3
— NorthernMan (@NorthGuy66) March 12, 2022
I’m convinced at this point that they will NEVER learn.
— RJ (@RJWlms) March 12, 2022
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
white-queer-african
Lol. Lol. Lol.
Oh the sheep following the orange chosen one to the slaughter!
Cam
He claimed there was a prize if you donated. He didn’t give a prize. That needs to be investigated as fraud. Just like most of the other money scams this family does.
Amazing, he burned through his entire inheritance, now is in debt hundreds of millions. The worst businessman in the country.
Polaro
Nothing new here. He’s a grifter.
Jim
Frump doesn’t HAVE a plane now, and cannot afford to fix his old Boeing. So the scammer is looking for donations for a new plane!
MISTERJETT
omg, he’s just a horrible, gruesome thing.
SPEEDOSWIMMER
don-the-con… business as usual.
Mack
Trump found a money maker in running for President and he’ll milk it as long as the idiots worships him. He’ll take the last dime from a retiree if he can. Despicable pile of crap.
Kangol2
Don the Con conning like usual! Always remember, he’s the same treasonous moron who told his gullible followers, “Mexico will pay for the wall.” Liars gonna lie!
dadhc
The sheep will never learn because they see him as someone who knows them; he does, he’s just like them, ‘rich’ white trash, racist, any-phobic there is, and jealous of everyone he perceives as better than him.
Jaquelope
“Better than HIM?” Why child, don’t you know there’s no one better than him? Just ask him, he’ll tell you bigly.”
(The preceding is entirely sarcasm; in case you couldn’t tell.)
Prax07
I say let the turd keep on taking and taking from his loving fandim. Let them all go broke supporting him. He just throws their money away on failures anyway, so win/win.
M K
It wasn’t even his plane… he was on a plane of a donor… and so was the replacement plane.
Yea, he’s “so rich”.
jt1990
Liberals in 2019: Can’t wait until Trump is gone! We hate Trump! I never want to hear his name again!
Liberals now: I wonder what Trump’s doing today? Let’s click on this article and find out!
Meanwhile, Orange Man patiently enjoys his baconators and extra fries until the 2024 election comes around….
Cam
The right wing troll account, under an older screename, always comes in to rant and cry when Trump’s or his family’s crimes are exposed.
In other words, you’re angry that his ripping people off is being reported on, not that he’s ACTUALLY ripping people off.
Your trolling is sad and weak.
GayEGO
No surprise here! Everytime I got one of his emails I deleted it because I knew he was out for money and would not come through with his scams!
gaym50ish
Isn’t that whole scheme an illegal lottery in every state? It contains the three elements of a lottery — consideration, chance and prize. It is different than a sweepstakes, for which you don’t have to put up any money to enter. The way charities get around that is to offer a free entry without a donation, knowing that very few people will ask for a free ticket. But if Trump didn’t offer that, it would seem to be illegal.