Quick Hit:

Former President Donald Trump launched a GoFundMe on Monday to support victims of Hurricane Helene in Georgia and North Carolina, raising over $2 million by Tuesday morning. After touring the hardest-hit areas in Valdosta, Trump emphasized the importance of unity and relief efforts, saying, "We're here today to stand in complete solidarity with those suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene."

Key Details:

• Trump launched the GoFundMe campaign after his visit to Valdosta, Georgia, where he toured the damage and highlighted the need for continued aid, stating, “Entire neighborhoods have been turned into lakes, and the devastation is unlike anything we’ve seen before.”

• Major donations include $500,000 from former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler and $100,000 from UFC President Dana White, Bass Pro Shop, and hedge fund billionaire William Ackman.

• Trump emphasized the need for immediate federal assistance, stating, “We do need some help from the federal government. They have to get together... and I’m sure they’re going to come through.”

Diving Deeper:

On Monday, former President Donald Trump launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Helene, which left a path of destruction across parts of western North Carolina and Georgia. By Tuesday morning, the campaign had already raised over $2 million, with donations pouring in from prominent supporters. The GoFundMe page was set up following Trump’s visit to Valdosta, Georgia, where he surveyed the damage and spoke with affected residents.

“We’re here today to stand in complete solidarity with the people of Georgia and with all of those suffering in the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” Trump said during his visit. He praised the ongoing relief efforts, adding, “We brought a lot of [supplies] down with us... It’s going to be distributed now or soon.”

The GoFundMe campaign drew support from a number of high-profile figures. Former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler contributed $500,000 to the cause, while UFC President Dana White, Bass Pro Shop, and hedge fund billionaire William Ackman each pledged $100,000. Additional donors included musician Kid Rock, U.S. Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and personal injury attorney Dan Newlin.

While in Valdosta, Trump highlighted the need for immediate federal assistance, particularly for Georgia and North Carolina. “We do need some help from the federal government. They have to get together... and I’m sure they’re going to come through,” Trump said, calling for increased relief efforts. He also revealed that he had spoken with Elon Musk to deploy Starlink satellite services in the region, addressing communication outages in hard-hit areas. “They have no communication... we’re working on that,” he noted.

Trump also took time to praise the rapid response of volunteer organizations like Samaritan’s Purse, led by Franklin Graham. “Franklin’s incredible organization... has done such a good job. We’ve done this before,” Trump remarked.