Trump Rents Out Email List Of 40 Million Supporters To Candidates, New Book Reveals

KEY POINTS

The list had an estimated worth of $100 million
The email list was used as a fundraiser for Trump's campaign
Trump may announce his 2024 bid after the 2022 midterm elections

Former President Donald Trump may have rented out the contact information of his supporters to other GOP candidates to generate funds, a new book reveals.

In the upcoming book “Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show” by ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, the author claimed that the list, which contained the email addresses of Trump’s 40 million supporters, was rented out at steep cost. This made the list one of Trump’s most valuable political assets during his campaign.

"The list generated so much money that party officials estimated that it was worth about $100 million,” Karl wrote in his book.

The list was later allegedly used by RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel to force Trump to stay with the Republican Party after he threatened to start his own party following his electoral defeat in 2020. The GOP also threatened to stop paying Trump’s election legal battle fees in several battleground states.

Trump and McDaniel later issued separate statements denying the story, with the RNC chairwoman noting that she and Trump have a “great relationship.”

“We have worked tirelessly together to elect Republicans up and down the ballot, and will continue to do so,” McDaniel added, according to ABC News.

Trump also denounced the author’s account, claiming the story is “fake news.” During his final interview with Karl for the book, Trump also said he could not remember the heated conversation between him and McDaniel over his plans to leave the GOP.

"Oh, that is bulls**t. It never happened,” Trump said.

It is unclear when Trump plans to formally announce his 2024 presidential bid and if he will, indeed, stay with the Republican Party.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump hinted at plans to wait until the end of the 2022 midterm elections to announce his bid, calling the timeline “probably appropriate.” He also suggested that his supporters would be “very happy” with the decision.

When asked whether he has selected a potential running mate, Trump said there were a lot of “great people” in the Republican party. He also said he would consider Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-FL, and former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.