As COVID-19 continues its rampant spread in the United States, taking hundreds of thousands of lives in its wake, the President and his family continue to hold fundraisers where masks are optional, and apparently, discouraged, according to firsthand social media posts reviewed by American Ledger. 

On October 15, 2020, the Trump campaign held a high-dollar fundraiser at the Trump National Doral resort in Miami, Florida where the minimum donation required per person was $5,000. According to social media posts, President Trump, his daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric did not wear masks while mingling with guests at the indoor event that took place just days after the president was hospitalized due to contracting the coronavirus. Most of the other guests also did not appear to be wearing masks.

The posts were videos from Alan Thomas, a wealthy, outspoken Trump donor who has appeared at several campaign events for the president over the past year. On October 8th, Thomas also posted a photo at another indoor maskless event in Florida attended by Donald Trump Jr, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.

In June, Thomas also had VIP access at Trump’s Tulsa rally where he posted a video proudly proclaiming he refused a COVID test before going inside. Once inside, he posted several videos of maskless Trump associates including a close up moment between himself and Herman Cain, who later died as a result of COVID-19. Back in February, Thomas visited the White House and while in D.C. he stayed at Trump International Hotel.

Thomas’ social media posts paint a clear picture: For members of Trump’s inner orbit and those who are willing to donate enough money to the campaign, the deadly, global pandemic is seemingly non-existent, no matter the consequences. Despite having COVID-19 himself, the president’s rhetoric on the virus remains unchanged. In fact, he has gone further, in recent weeks attacking Dr. Anthony Fauci, the most trusted public health expert in the country.

As deaths from COVID-19 tick towards 220,000 and cases rocket past 8,000,000, President Trump seeks reelection in November.


Contact Chai Karve at ckarve@americanbridge.org