Democratic Online Fundraising Platforms under Fire from Trump
President Trump's Crackdown on Democrat Fundraising Sites
In a bold move, President Trump has set his sights on the online fundraising platforms that keep Democrats' political campaigns afloat. In a no-nonsense executive order last Thursday, the Trump administration kick-started an investigation into ActBlue, the go-to fundraising tool for the Democratic Party.
The executive order, published on the White House website, raises concerns about "foreign nationals" potentially using fundraising platforms, such as ActBlue, to influence American elections. The order empowers the new Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessant, to delve into these platforms for any signs of foul play. The order states:
...there's something fishy going on with these online fundraising platforms, helping dishonest folks launder prohibited contributions to political candidates and committees. We're talking about breaking down large contributions from a single source into a bunch of smaller ones without the original donor's knowledge or consent, and even the use of dummy accounts and anonymous payment methods to avoid detection.
The order goes on to insist that Bondi and Bessant can investigate these fundraising tools to uncover any signs of foreign influence. Gizmodo has reached out to the Trump administration for a clarification.
Interestingly, the order hints at a previous probe by House Republicans into ActBlue, which allegedly exposed evidence of foreign-based fraud on the platform.
It's important to note that Republicans have their own fundraising operation, WinRed, introduced during Trump's first term. Launched in 2019, WinRed is a for-profit fundraising tool that allows the GOP to compete with ActBlue. Despite Trump's push for Republicans to use the platform, it hasn't lived up to its Democratic counterpart's success and has been criticized by Republicans themselves. The platform has also been scrutinized by several state attorneys general due to its questionable tactics to encourage donations.
As the investigation into ActBlue heats up, it's evident that Democrat donors are far from worried, with the platform enjoying a surge in fundraising following the announcement of the investigation, making it one of their most successful days of the year. This curious turn of events suggests that ActBlue remains a critical lifeline for Democrats despite the ongoing investigations.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as the Attorney General conducts their 180-day review and reports back to the President.
Investigations into ActBlue for allegations of foreign influence in political fundraising are ongoing, following an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump in April 2025. The Attorney General has been tasked with probing ActBlue over lashed concerns of "straw donor" schemes and the acceptance of foreign contributions in violation of federal law. Investigations follow reports that ActBlue had detected at least 22 significant fraud campaigns, with half tied to foreign actors.
The Attorney General is scheduled to submit a 180-day review to the President through the Counsel to the President, as per the instructions in the executive order. The outcome and detailed findings are expected following the completion of the review period.
Despite the ongoing scrutiny, ActBlue has seen a surge in fundraising, marking one of its most successful days of the year, demonstrating its continued significance as a fundraising channel for Democrats.
- The executive order signed by President Trump in April 2025 has initiated investigations into ActBlue, a popular Democratic fundraising platform, due to allegations of foreign influence in political fundraising.
- The Attorney General is currently probing ActBlue over concerns of "straw donor" schemes and the acceptance of foreign contributions, which are in violation of federal law.
- The ongoing investigations into ActBlue have not dampened its fundraising efforts, as it recently experienced a surge in donations, marking one of its most successful days of the year, demonstrating its continued importance as a fundraising tool for Democrats.
