The nightly phone calls that helped Trump raise $800 million

President Donald Trump makes an announcement on Freedom Haulers, an initiative to open pathways for military veterans to become commercial truck drivers, during an event at the White House (Reuters)

Donald Trump has personally helped pull in a staggering $800 million for projects tied to his second term, according to a new report.
The president is said to take a hands-on approach, regularly calling top fundraiser Meredith O’Rourke and asking corporate executives for donations of up to $50 million.
The fundraising haul has bankrolled high-profile projects including Trump’s presidential library, a new White House ballroom and Trump-aligned political action committees.
Tech giants have opened their wallets, with SoftBank reportedly giving $50 million for the library and Apple contributing $25 million toward the ballroom, while other major companies have donated to pro-Trump PACs.
Critics have branded the effort a “Trump Transaction Tax” and a “corporate shakedown,” saying it clashes with Trump’s past criticism of political action committees.