Donald Trump has learned that you can’t run a campaign on the premise that you hate Super PACs while accepting support from Super PACs.
On Friday, in a TRUMP MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN press release, Trump’s campaign announced that he is “disavowing” the nine Super PACs supporting his candidacy and had ordered them to return the money they raised.
“He has repeatedly stated his opposition to the use of Super PAC’s and major contributions, which he has consistently turned down since announcing his candidacy and is calling on all candidates to do the same,” the release read.
The news comes months after Trump legitimized one of the Super PACs, Make America Great Again PAC, by attending a 200-person Manhattan fundraiser the group organized in mid-July, according to Politico.
Make America Great Again PAC, which The Daily Beast reported in August was run by lobbyists—another thing Trump purports to hate—shut down on Thursday, after it was revealed, by The Washington Post, that the July fundraiser wasn’t Trump’s only connection to the group. On Sept. 1, Mike Ciletti, who worked for the PAC, emailed a “Trump acquaintance” to solicit a donation. The acquaintance’s information was obtained by Rhona Graff, Trump’s aide. Meaning that not only was Trump lying about not using Super PACs to help fund his campaign, but his campaign appeared to be coordinating with those Super PACs.
Further, The Post reported that Ciletti was also being paid by Trump’s campaign while he was running the PAC.
If Donald Trump has a political philosophy, it’s this: I’m really rich. When he says that, he’s implying that unlike all those other poor suckers seeking the presidency, he can’t be bought.
Trump’s connection to Super PACs would seem to undercut that message. But now he’s not merely severing ties with dark money groups, he’s attempting to rewrite history and pretend those ties never existed in the first place.
“The only special interest I am beholden to is the American people and together we will Make America Great Again!” he said in a statement Friday.