Ex-GOP Operative Slams Trump's 'Loathsome' Fundraising Scheme

Former Lincoln Project co-founder calls out Trump's use of fallen soldier photo to raise money.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:08pm

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Former Republican strategist Rick Wilson harshly criticized former President Donald Trump's latest fundraising effort, which used a photo from the dignified transfer of fallen U.S. soldiers at Dover Air Force Base to solicit donations for Trump's 'MAGA coalition'. Wilson called the move 'loathsome' and said he would be 'the first to piss on his miserable grave'.

Why it matters

Trump's use of the solemn image of fallen soldiers being returned home to raise money for his political organization has been widely condemned as exploitative and disrespectful to the military and their families. This latest controversy further highlights the former president's willingness to use any means, even the most sensitive and tragic, to raise funds and maintain political relevance.

The details

In an email to his mailing list, Trump advertised the final spots on his 'National Security Briefing council', using an image of himself wearing a baseball cap at the transfer of the remains of 13 U.S. soldiers killed in the conflict in Iran. The email 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.'

  • The email from Trump was sent on March 13, 2026.

The players

Rick Wilson

A former Republican strategist and co-founder of The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump organization.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who is attempting to raise funds using an image from the dignified transfer of fallen U.S. soldiers.

Gavin Newsom

The Democratic Governor of California who criticized Trump's use of the image as 'deeply SICK and DISGUSTING'.

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What they’re saying

“They're using a photo from the return of dead soldiers to Dover AFB. 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.”

— Rick Wilson, Former Republican Strategist

“Donald Trump is fundraising off of dead soldiers. He is a deeply SICK and DISGUSTING MAN!”

— Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

The takeaway

This incident further highlights the former president's willingness to exploit even the most solemn and tragic events for political and financial gain, underscoring the need for greater accountability and ethical standards in political fundraising and messaging.