Donald Trump is skipping a primary debate Thursday evening to host a counter-rally to benefit U.S. veterans, but his campaign spokeswoman on Thursday couldn’t say which veterans groups have been designated as the beneficiaries.
Eyebrows were first raised when reporters noticed that a fundraising website launched Thursday morning in preparation for the GOP front-runner’s event noted that all contributions would go to the “Donald J. Trump Foundation.”
CNN then pressed the billionaire businessman’s campaign spokeswoman, Katrina Pierson, on the issue.
“Let me ask you this because this is an open question and CNN has reached out to the Trump campaign to get an answer to this very simple question: Which veterans groups are taking part tonight and which veteran groups have agreed to accept money raised at this event tonight?” host Jim Sciutto asked.
Pierson responded, “Well, you know, Jim, there is a website up now and money raised will be in bulk and disbursements will be spread all across the country to veterans organizations. Those who don’t want to receive the money, we’ll make sure not to send them a check.”
“The money is going to a Trump organization now,” the anchor pressed. “Name one veterans organization that has agreed to accept that money. … Can you name one veterans organization that will participate tonight and accept some of the funds raised tonight?”
Pierson again dodged the question, saying instead, “I believe there might be a list on the website. There are a lot of organizations that are in queue to sign up for this. There are veterans that will be attending tonight and will be doing some of the program as well.”
“But I was going to say, with regard to veterans, we’ve seen a lot of pushback in the media from other veterans who don’t appreciate what Mr. Trump is trying to do for veterans,” she added.
This is not the first time that Trump’s campaign spokeswoman has appeared out of the loop. On Tuesday, she learned for the first time during a live broadcast that Trump’s team had announced he’d “definitely” boycott Fox’s Thursday debate.
The charity event was originally intended to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, but they say they haven’t been contacted by anyone in the real estate mogul’s camp. The founder of a separate veterans group, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, made it clear he wasn’t interested in taking Trump’s charity money.
“If offered, @IAVA will decline donations from Trump’s event. We need strong policies from candidates, not to be used for political stunts,” Paul Rieckhoff said on social media.
My grandpa taught me that it was immoral to exploit a Vet for political gain. He is right! May he RIP: #txsen http://t.co/tz4ZAbDb
— Katrina Pierson (@KatrinaPierson) June 12, 2012
Trump scheduled the veterans event at the same time as a primary debate hosted by Fox News because he is protesting the network’s decision to include Megyn Kelly as a moderator.
The casino tycoon and cable news anchor have been involved in an ugly public spat since last summer, after she asked him during the first GOP debate to respond to disparaging comments that he has made about various women.
Trump’s team says the boycott isn’t about Kelly, and they have argued all week that they’re protesting Fox chief Roger Ailes for being unfair and biased.
