A new super PAC supporting former President Donald J. Trump — and backed by a member of his private club Mar-a-Lago — has emerged and plans to air ads during the presidential election.
The group Right for America is backed by Ike Perlmutter, the billionaire former Marvel Entertainment executive, and led by a Trump ally, Sergio Gor, according to two people briefed on the matter.
It’s unclear how much money the group plans to raise and when exactly it will begin airing ads. Its existence was first reported by Axios.
Mr. Gor declined to comment. A spokesman for Mr. Perlmutter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Trump gave his blessing to the committee in private conversations, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Two other board members are also close confidants of Mr. Trump: Lee Rizzuto and Anthony Lomangino.
Wealthy donors have often wanted some degree of control over how their money is spent since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision in 2010 paved the way for super PACs. But the existence of the pro-Trump group has already caused tensions within Mr. Trump. Trump’s broader reach. The main super PAC supporting him, Make America Great Again Inc., has been aggressive for months, including last year when it attacked Mr. Trump’s rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The potential for competing super PACs could raise issues regarding conflicting messaging. And Mr. Trump could face questions about his closeness to the people who run him, considering that Mr. Perlmutter is a member of Mar-a-Lago, where the former president lives and often dines at night in the presence of members. Legally, super PACs and campaigns cannot coordinate strategy.
The group has not yet announced who will be on the staff. But Mr. Trump has told his allies that Mr. Perlmutter’s Hollywood associates will be involved in producing the commercials.
Mr. Gor is close to Mr. Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. Together they run a publishing company that printed Mr. Trump’s two books after his presidency.
Mr. Perlmutter has had a long relationship with Mr. Trump and was often involved in the former president’s work. Mr. Perlmutter and two other club members helped shape policy at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs while Mr. Trump was president.
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2024-02-23 19:38:04
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