At least two high-dollar donors who helped raise money for Donald Trump or directly contributed to his campaign requested refunds immediately after a video was released showing Trump making lewd comments about women, NBC News reported on Wednesday.
In an email to Trump’s fundraising team titled “Trump support withdrawal,” one GOP donor who declined to be identified wrote: “I cannot express my disappointment enough regarding the recent events surrounding Mr. Trump. I regret coming to the Trump support event, and in particular allowing my son to be a part of it.”
“I respectfully request that my money be refunded,” the donor added, according to NBC News. The donor is also worried that Trump’s campaign “will assure a victory for Mrs. Clinton with disastrous consequences for the [Republican] party and our country’s future.”
Another donor who had contributed to the Trump campaign said he was “mortified” upon hearing the GOP nominee’s comments about groping women in a private conversation with Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush in 2005.
“How am I suppose [sic] to respect and support Mr. Trump with his attitude toward women?” the second donor wrote. “I have three young children and will not support a crude sexist man.”
“I expect a refund of my donation,” the donor noted. “Please process immediately and I thank you for your help.”
Senior communications adviser Jason Miller said the Trump campaign was “unaware” of any donors requesting that their contributions be refunded. Miller did not return the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
The GOP bundler who had urged the donors to contribute to Trump’s campaign, and claimed to have raised nearly $1 million for the Republican candidate, told NBC News that he “lost sleep” over the audio tape controversy, but that his frustration with Trump had been building for quite some time.
“I’m really embarrassed. I shook hands with him last week and now I want to wash my hand,” the bundler said, adding that Trump’s campaign slogan should be “‘You’re destroying America.'”
Despite attracting a record number of small-dollar donors since he began soliciting donations in June, Trump has consistently posted smaller monthly fundraising totals than his Democratic opponent. The candidate and his allies reported having $74 million cash on hand at the beginning of September, compared to the $152 million war chest belonging to Clinton and her allies.
