Former President Trump has left big-name billionaire donors flustered after denying them much-needed assurances during a campaign dinner, according to reports.
In an article based on interviews with more than a dozen people close to the former president, The New York Times revealed comments made by Trump.
About 130 people attended the dinner at the home of Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, in Bridgehampton on August 2.
Among those in attendance were some of Trump’s wealthiest supporters, including billionaire financier Bill Ackman, who sat next to him.
While some guests had hoped Trump would signal a recalibration of his campaign approach, he instead chose to revive false claims about the 2020 election.
During a roundtable discussion, Trump told billionaire attendees that “we have to stop the steal,” a phrase his advisers urged him to abandon, the outlet reported.
In an article based on interviews with more than a dozen people close to the former president, The New York Times revealed the comments made by Trump
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the crowd at a rally at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday
Two people present told the Times that Trump also mentioned comments he made about Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity, telling them, “I think she was right.”
He also said the media had been suggesting he had softened somewhat after the assassination attempt, saying: “I’m not any nicer.”
One person present told the outlet that Trump described himself as “angry” that Democrats had tried to bankrupt and kill him.
When asked how he planned to reclaim the Democrats’ narrative and what his vision for the country was, he reportedly provided none.
Instead, he went on the attack, criticizing Kamala Harris, before telling attendees: “I am who I am.”
While Harris has seemingly outperformed Trump in key states, Trump has struggled to find a consistent argument against her.
Experts said they found the transformation that followed Biden’s withdrawal disconcerting.
They told the Times he had been disconcerted and changed since recent events like the Republican National Convention.
In response to the switch of rivals, behind closed doors, he reportedly called Harris a “bitch,” two people told the outlet.
His campaign denied such language in a statement, but his speed to attack has reportedly left him open to manipulation.
U.S. President Donald Trump presents physician Miriam Adelson, wife of Sheldon Adelson, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 16, 2018.
The outlet reported that just a week before the dinner, Trump blindsided one of his wealthiest donors, Miriam Adelson, after an aide sent her a series of angry text messages on his behalf.
The texts came a week after Adelson and Trump met the previous week during the Republican National Convention.
According to the outlet, the posts complained about the people who run Adelson’s super PAC, Preserve America, which is pouring millions into Trump’s campaign.
The texts said the PAC officials were “RINOs” — Republicans in name only — and that her late husband would not have tolerated it.
Two people told the Times that Adelson later discovered the messages had been encouraged by another major donor, Ike Perlmutter, the former chairman of Marvel.
Sources said Perlmutter expected Adelson to contribute to a rival super PAC he backs.
According to the outlet, the text messages have raised concerns that Adelson may begin to reduce his support for Trump.
Trump has been receiving complaints from donors about his vice presidential nominee, JD Vance, especially after his previous statements were revealed.
A series of past comments have come back to haunt the Ohio senator, including a comment that the country was being run by “childless cat ladies” like Harris.
Trump reportedly dismissed these concerns even after suggestions he replace Vance.
She has privately asked advisers whether they knew about Vance’s comments about childless women before he was elected.
At the Aug. 2 fundraiser, Trump was asked in a roundtable discussion about Democrats trying to paint the duo as “weird.”
Two people with knowledge of the event told the outlet that Trump responded: “It’s not about me. They’re saying that about JD.”
Sources said Trump has not lost confidence in Vance but has told him to continue attacking Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Although he publicly claimed he was happier to face Harris than Biden in the election, sources said that was not true.
He is also reported to be uneasy about the positive coverage of Harris, something he has never been accustomed to in his political life.
A series of past comments have come back to haunt the Ohio senator, seen here, including a comment that the country was being run by “childless cat ladies” like Harris.
Although he publicly stated that he is happier to face Harris than Biden in the election, sources claimed this was not true.
Tony Fabrizio, the Trump campaign’s chief pollster, told the outlet: “(Harris) has received the equivalent of the largest in-kind contribution of free media that I think I’ve seen in all my years of running presidential campaigns.”
Shortly after Harris replaced Biden, Fabrizio stressed to staff that the polls would fall against Trump before recovering.
He has insisted that the race has not changed and that voters will eventually turn Harris off.
Trump has claimed, without any evidence, that Biden has regretted his decision to resign and wants to undo it on his Truth Social platform.
Sources familiar with the matter said the candidate has repeatedly spoken out about how poorly Democrats have treated Biden and has complained about having to start the race over and face another opponent.
The Times said Trump has become increasingly interested in Harris’s push and is “constantly” asking about new polls.
He is also reportedly struggling to decide how to define Harris, what to attack her for and what nickname to disparage her with.
At first, Trump mocked her laugh, calling her “Kamala laughing at me,” but she didn’t like it. He then chose “Crooked,” which he has used constantly against President Biden.
Top advisers have urged his campaign to focus on the economy, immigration and crime, areas where Trump’s message has played well with voters.
Trump has been told to portray Harris as someone who changes her stance on certain issues, calling her “phony.”
Kellyanne Conway, who ran his campaign in 2016, reportedly told Trump to use policy contrasts rather than personal attacks on her.
Despite this, he called it “disgusting” and said it was “very disrespectful” to his black and Indian heritage at a press conference earlier this week.
In a statement, a Trump spokesman said Trump “continues to run a winning campaign and has built a movement focused on Making Our Nation Great Again.”
While another added that Trump has presented a “positive” vision for the country, in contrast to the “dangerously liberal policies” of Biden and Harris.
Harris is now scheduled to debate Trump on Sept. 10 on ABC, marking the first head-to-head matchup between the rivals in what polls show is a tight race.
