Timothy Mellon, an ultra-wealthy banking heir, donated $50 million to a super PAC supporting former President Donald Trump on the day after his history felony conviction, records from the Federal Election Commission show, marking one of the largest disclosed campaign contributions ever.
The $50 million contribution is a staggering amount for pro-Trump forces as the White House campaign enters a critical period when voters are starting to tune into the high-stakes race between presumptive GOP nominee Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden.
Trump has already made history as the first former president and major party nominee to be found guilty of a felony. His campaign has been able to use his legal troubles as a way to increase support and donations: in May, the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee announced a $141 million haul as his criminal trial dominated the headlines. The conviction crashed his donation website.
Mellon’s donation is sure to help Trump’s efforts to win back the White House. The super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., has plans to spend an additional $100 million through Labor Day, according to a memo from the group’s owners obtained by the New York Times. The super PAC supporting Trump’s campaign is preparing an advertising blitz in key states where Trump leads Biden in the polls, the Times reported.
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Mellon, the heir the family fortune of banking and industrial magnate Andrew Mellon, was already the largest single donor in the 2024 race. Prior to May, he had supported both Trump and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with a string of donations totaling $50 million. In April alone, he donated $15 million to super PACs backing both candidates.
Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @rachelbarber_
