Darren Centinello, a Trump Campaign staffer, discussed the three message options that the Trump Campaign had on the table.[78]
The first option was to send out copy claiming President Trump had won the 2020 election. But the Campaign knew this message was false, and Boedigheimer told Centinello that he could not get this messaging approved yet.[79] The Trump Campaign's second option was an email stating they were still waiting on the election results. This message would have been the truth. The Campaign rejected this option.
Instead, the Trump Campaign chose a third option. Boedigheimer confirmed that TMAGAC fundraisers had received approval for copy claiming that the Democrats are going to "try to steal the election" before election night.[80]
Zambrano confirmed that it would not surprise him that TMAGAC was immediately claiming that Democrats were trying to steal the election, because President Trump has been pushing that message.[81] Zambrano added, "That was the President's phrasing in the messaging that the team was sourcing from."[82] Importantly, Boedigheimer confirmed that the TMAGAC copywriting team did not base its use of the "trying to steal" language on any awareness of actual fraud.[83]
B. Post-Election Fundraising Off the Big Lie
Both the Trump Campaign and the RNC directed TMAGAC to continue fundraising after the election.[84] Justin Clark, the deputy campaign manager, explained that the decision to continue fundraising after the election would have come from President Trump himself.[85]
Starting after the election and until January 6th, the Trump Campaign, along with the RNC, sent millions of emails to their supporters, with messaging such as claiming that the election was "RIGGED."[86] The Trump Campaign viewed the TMAGAC emails as another avenue to get out President Trump's post-election messaging about the alleged fraud.[87] These emails used false claims of voter fraud to create a sense of urgency that the election was being stolen. The Trump Campaign and the RNC told their supporters that their donations could stop Democrats from "trying to steal the election." They consistently encouraged donors to give money to continue "uncovering" fraud that had not occurred. These emails were sent out after being reviewed and approved by the Approvals Group.[88]
The TMAGAC fundraisers used inflammatory language and false election fraud claims after the election because it was both effective at fundraising and accurately captured President Trump's ongoing tone and messaging.[89] When the digital fundraising team drafted emails claiming, for example, that "Democrats are trying to steal the election," they did not bother to confirm whether or not those inflammatory statements were true,
