Ex-GOP operative exposes Trump's 'loathsome' new fundraising scheme

Former Republican strategist Rick Wilson on Friday had a scathing response after President Donald Trump's new

attempt to fundraise for his MAGA coalition.

The co-founder of The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump organization, revealed in his Substack why Trump's use of a photo showing the dignified transfer of a fallen soldier killed in Kuwait was so troubling.

"They’re using a photo from the return of dead soldiers to Dover AFB," Wilson wrote. "In his dumb hat. To raise money. A million suns could not contain the heat of my hatred for this loathsome piece of human s---. I will be the first to piss on his miserable grave."

The president sent an email to his mailing list advertising the final few spots on his National Security Briefing council. The image attached to the email is from an appearance Trump made — wearing his baseball hat — at the transfer of the Iran war dead, with 13 US soldiers now killed in the conflict.

The email from Trump read, "VERY FEW SPOTS REMAINING! CLAIM YOUR SPOT. These final spots are reserved for my strongest supporters (YOU'RE ONE OF THEM!). This is no ordinary membership."

Wilson wasn't alone in criticizing Trump's fundraising effort.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a frequent Trump foe and vocal critic, Thursday evening also pointed out why the president's message was problematic.

His team denounced the use of the image as a tool for fundraising and wrote on X, "Donald Trump is fundraising off of dead soldiers. He is a deeply SICK and DISGUSTING MAN!"