A Republican donor who says he contributed $60,000 to Donald Trump’s campaign has publicly broken with the former president and the MAGA movement, accusing Trump of betraying supporters and putting personal loyalty ahead of policy.
Bruce Fenton, a New Hampshire‑based investor and former 2022 Republican Senate candidate, made the comments in a post on X on Sunday, where he said he had supported Trump financially and politically but no longer backed him.
“I’m a Republican. I supported Trump. I raised money for him, I voted for him. I donated $60,000 to his campaign,” Fenton wrote. “Trump lied. He rugpulled us all.”
Newsweek reached out to Fenton via his website for comment, and to the White House via email.
Why It Matters
Fenton’s comments highlight ongoing tensions within the Republican Party as Trump remains its dominant figure, even while some former supporters publicly question his leadership and policy direction.
As a donor who says he contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Trump’s campaign, Fenton’s break with MAGA underscores frustration among some conservatives. Trump continues to command strong support from his base while critics within the GOP warn that internal divisions are deepening.
What To Know
In his post, Fenton said his support for Trump had been based on policy rather than personal allegiance, adding that he did not vote for what he described as “Lindsey Graham / America Second policies.”
“You can disagree with me if you want. It’s your right to be fooled,” Fenton wrote. “But if you say I have ‘TDS’ [Trump derangement syndrome] or am a ‘liberal’ you need a new argument.”
Fenton argued that many conservatives shared his views but had not spoken out publicly, claiming that the Republican coalition that once supported Trump had been “torched.”
“The only ones left supporting him are MAGA always Trumpers who place the man above the policies and our country,” Fenton added.
In a follow-up post, he said: “We supporters didn’t flip on Trump—he betrayed us and everything he said he stood for.”
Alongside his comments, Fenton shared what he described as a screenshot of Federal Election Commission data showing a $60,000 donation made in July 2024 during the 2024 election cycle. Newsweek has not independently verified the screenshot.
Fenton previously ran as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in New Hampshire in 2022. He is also the founder and chief executive of Chainstone Labs, a financial advisory firm focused on digital assets, and has held leadership roles within the Bitcoin Foundation.
What Happens Next
It remains unclear whether Fenton plans to support an alternative Republican candidate or withdraw from national politics altogether. He did not indicate in his post who, if anyone, he plans to back instead.
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