#Trump says he will give his campaign ‘whatever it takes’ to beat Biden

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President Trump talks to reporters before boarding Air Force One today.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Calling it “the most important election in history,” President Trump on Tuesday told reporters that he will contribute to his own campaign “whatever it takes” to defeat Democrat Joe Biden — but noted that they have plenty of cash in the coffers.

“If I have to, I will,” Trump said on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews. “Whatever it takes, we have to win.”

Minutes later, Trump tweeted from Air Force One: “Like I did in the 2016 Primaries, if more money is needed, which I doubt it will be, I will put it up!”

Trump defended his campaign’s spending early in the coronavirus pandemic, writing it “was forced to spend in order to counter the Fake News reporting about the way we handled it… We did, and are doing, a GREAT job, and have a lot of money left over, much more than 2016.”

Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday that Trump has spoken of donating $100 million to his own campaign.

The president is the richest person to lead the country, with an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion, according to Forbes.

In 2016, Trump donated $66 million to his own campaign.

Trump bashed Biden on Tuesday before a trip to Florida and North Carolina. “Joe doesn’t have the strength, he doesn’t have the mental capability,” Trump said.

Earlier Monday, Trump defended his fundraising performance and spending against Biden, tweeting that his campaign has “Lots of $’s & ENERGY!” Recent reports indicate unease that some wealthy backers, including casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and Estée Lauder heir Ronald Lauder, are holding back.

Biden raised $365 million in August, a one-month haul that blows away historical records, formerly topped by former President Barack Obama’s record $193 million one-month haul in 2008.

Trump and the Republican National Committee have not released August fundraising numbers, but the campaigns had roughly the same amount of cash on hand — about $300 million — in late July, Bloomberg reported.