Donald Trump claimed Tuesday that he has raised $5.6 million for more than 40 organizations across the country that benefit American veterans.
After months of claiming he raised “$6 million” during an event held Jan. 28, the same night as a GOP primary debate, Trump told reporters he had actually raised “close to $6 millon” and written a $1 million check of his own to benefit veterans.
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But Trump also bristled at some of the criticism he’s received who said he was slow to deliver the money to groups.
“I wanted to make this out of the goodness of my heart,” Trump said during a press conference at Trump Tower in New York City. “Then all of a sudden, everybody’s saying, ‘Where did it go? Who did it go to?'”
“These checks have been delivered, they have been cashed and they are now being used to help the vets,” he claimed, referring to contributions ranging from $50,000 to $1.1 million to various veterans groups.
One organization, he said, still needed to be “vetted” before they can receive their check. “It’s called vetting. We vet the vets.”
While Trump’s campaign attributed the delay in getting donations to certain groups to their vetting process, some groups did receive substantial checks from the Trump Foundation just weeks after the initial fundraiser was held.
According to the Washington Post, the disabled veterans’ group Racing for Heroes “received a $100,000 donation in the first weeks after the Iowa fundraiser,” followed by another check more recently. Other groups, including the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and Bob Woodruff Foundation, received their checks in the days leading up to Trump’s press conference.
“I’m not looking for credit,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday. The billionaire grew increasingly critical of the media as the press conference went on, calling one reporter a “sleaze” and accusing the press of unfairly attacking him over the money for veterans groups.
A handful of protesters gathered outside Trump’s press conference Tuesday, accusing the billionaire of using veterans as “political pawns.” Trump suggested the demonstrators were sent by his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.
