MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – GoFundMe responded to concerns that a page set up after former President Donald Trump was fined in his civil fraud judgment is in breach of the platform’s rules.
GoFundMe Director of Public Affairs Jalen Drummond confirmed Monday that the page, which was set up for Trump on Friday, following New York State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling that he will have to pay roughly $355 million in penalties for fraud, was “within its terms and services” despite people voicing their concerns about it on social media.
Engoron ordered Trump and his companies to pay $354,868,768 million in penalties, finding that the former president lied about his wealth for years in a sweeping civil fraud verdict that pierces his billionaire image but stops short of putting his real estate empire out of business.
Following the ruling, Elena Cardone, of Aventura, and wife of real estate businessman Grant Cardone, created the GoFundMe page titled, “Stand with Trump; Fund the $355M Unjust Judgment.”
Thousands of users on X, formally known as Twitter, raised some concerns that the page could be in breach of the platform’s rules about fundraising for those convicted of crimes and called for it to be shut down.
Following the verdict, Trump lashed out at Engoron as “crooked” and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who filed the lawsuit in 2022, as “totally corrupt.”
“When you can allow this to happen to one property owner, this can happen to everyone,” Elena Cardone said. “Now it’s about, I have no other choice but to stand up and represent property owners and business owners in America.”
In an exclusive interview with Local 10 News, Elena Cardone said that the judge’s ruling “rocked” her “to the core.”
“I’ve never shown up at a property where the homeowner didn’t think their house with work more than it is, but now, according to the New York judge, for doing that, you can be considered to have committed fraud,” she said.
Elena Cardone, who described herself as “an ardent supporter of American values and an advocate for justice,” said on the page that the fundraiser was intended to allow “patriots” who “stand with Trump” to “show our collective strength and resolve.”
“This is more than a legal fund; it’s a clarion call to all patriots to rally in defense of a man who has never hesitated to stand in defense of us,” she wrote. “It’s about showing that when one of us is targeted for championing the values that make America great, he does not stand alone.”
The page has left many X users outraged.
“Why would anyone donate to a millionaire,” one commenter wrote.
Another commenter stated, “It’s shameful that anyone would start a GoFundMe for someone so despicable.”
Other social media users applauded the move writing, ”If they can do this to a president, then they can do it to anyone.”
Drummond told Local 10 News the reason the page does not violate GoFundMe’s policy is that the money is not going towards the former president’s defense since he has already been found guilty in the case.
Trump has stated he plans to appeal that New York judge’s decision.
Despite sparking controversy, the GoFundMe page has grossed over $500,000 since launching on Friday.