As Kamala Harris looks set to succeed Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, attention is turning to her past ties to Donald Trump, who donated to her reelection campaign when the Republican candidate was California’s attorney general.
Trump donated $6,000 to Harris’ campaign between 2011 and 2013. Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, also donated $2,000 to Harris in 2014.
The revelation began circulating on social media after Harris announced her intention to “seek and win” the Democratic nomination.
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News of the donation first began circulating in 2020, when Harris was Biden’s running mate. USA Today Fact Check investigated the claim at the time and rated it as true, noting:
“Donald Trump has made derisive remarks about Harris since taking office, but according to political contribution data reviewed by USA Today on the California Secretary of State’s website, Trump donated $5,000 to Harris’ first run for attorney general in 2011 and $1,000 to her reelection in 2013. Ivanka Trump donated $2,000 to Harris’ reelection campaign in 2014.”
In 2015, Harris redistributed the donations by donating them to nonprofits focused on civil rights work in Central America.
“The funny thing is, I look at my opponents. I’ve donated to most of them. Can you believe it?,” Trump said during the 2016 campaign. “I donated to the Democrats. I donated to Hillary. I donated to everybody! Because that’s my job. I have to donate to them. If I want something, I get it. I call them and they kiss my (expletive).”
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The donations came to the forefront as President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsing Harris. Biden’s withdrawal came after calls from within his own party for him to resign following a tough debate performance.
The Democratic Party’s candidate to succeed Biden will be decided at the Democratic National Convention to be held in Chicago from August 19 to 22. Since Biden cannot nominate a successor, the delegates at the Democratic National Convention will decide on the candidate.
Jeremy Yurow is a Hawaii-based political reporter for the USA Today Network. He can be reached at JYurow@gannett.com or X (formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow).
