Trump Fundraising Email Features Photo of Fallen U.S. Soldiers

The email offers donors 'private national security briefings' with the former president.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:50pm

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A recent fundraising email from former President Donald Trump's political action committee, Never Surrender Inc., featured a photo from the dignified transfer of U.S. service members killed in Kuwait. The email also promised donors 'private national security briefings' with Trump himself, raising concerns about the use of such sensitive imagery for partisan fundraising.

Why it matters

The use of a solemn military ceremony to solicit political donations is seen by some as a breach of norms, even if not technically illegal. There are also questions about what the promised 'national security briefings' would entail and whether they could involve the disclosure of classified information to donors.

The details

The email from Trump's PAC offered donors the chance to become 'National Security Briefing Members' and receive 'private national security briefings, unfiltered updates on the threats facing America' directly from the former president. It included a black-and-white version of an official White House photo showing Trump saluting a transfer case during the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base.

  • The fundraising email was sent out this week (March 14, 2026).
  • The photo used in the email was taken on March 7, 2026 during the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president whose political action committee, Never Surrender Inc., sent the fundraising email.

Daniel Weiner

The director of the elections and government program at the Brennan Center for Justice, who commented on the legality and norms surrounding the fundraising email.

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What they’re saying

“In this instance, obviously it would be a blatant violation of the law to disclose any sort of classified information or secret information to donors. But assuming that they're not actually doing that, it's hard to see that there's anything illegal about any of this.”

— Daniel Weiner, Director of the elections and government program at the Brennan Center for Justice

What’s next

The White House and the Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment on the fundraising email, raising questions about the nature of the 'private national security briefings' being offered to donors.

The takeaway

The use of a solemn military ceremony to solicit political donations, even if not technically illegal, raises concerns about the blurring of lines between partisan politics and matters of national security and military sacrifice.