The billionaire donors who left former President Donald Trump in 2020 are coming back in a big way. Instead of sticking with President Biden or sitting the election out, Donald Trump is looking pretty good to them.

Many backed Trump's opponents in the Republican primary race. Some disavowed him in 2020. All of that is in the rearview window now. We live in dangerous times and Joe Biden has lit a match to the fire. The Biden administration has been a disaster and the world is watching.

Forbes published a list of a dozen billionaires helping quickly close the fundraising gap between the Biden and Trump campaigns. All of them are from the business sector, not a Hollywood person on the list. 

Harold Hamm: The Continental Resources founder and longtime Trump friend—who donated to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ primary bids—was among the attendees at the now-infamous April Mar-A-Lago dinner with oil executives where Trump reportedly pitched industry-friendly policies while soliciting a $1 billion donation, and in May, Hamm co-hosted a Houston fundraiser for Trump, Reuters reported. (We estimate Hamm is worth $18.5 billion)

Timothy Mellon: A longtime Republican mega-donor and top contributor to Trump’s 2020 campaign, Mellon is the most prolific donor of the 2024 election cycle, USA Today reported, citing OpenSecrets data that shows Mellon donated $25 million each to super PACs backing both Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (We estimate the Mellon family is worth $14.1 billion)

Bernie Marcus: The Home depot co-founder gave $1 million to Trump’s main super PAC, MAGA Inc., in the second half of 2023, according to Politico, and he co-hosted an Atlanta fundraiser for Trump in April. (We estimate Marcus is worth $9.6 billion)

Kelcy Warren: After donating to DeSantis’ primary bid, marking a reversal from his support for Trump’s 2020 re-election bid, the Energy Transfer pipeline company founder gave upwards of $800,000 to Trump’s campaign apparatus, the Trump 47 committee, in the first quarter, according to FEC filings, and he and co-hosted the May fundraiser with Hamm. (We estimate Warren is worth $6 billion)

Isaac Perlmutter: Former chairman and CEO of Marvel Entertainment and a longtime Trump associate who advised him on Veterans Affairs policies during his first term, Perlmutter and his wife, Laura, made the largest donation, $10.1 million, to a new pro-Trump super PAC, Right for America, in the first quarter. (We estimate Perlmutter is worth $4.3 billion)

J. Joe Ricketts: Chairman of TD Ameritrade, Ricketts gave the maximum amount, $824,600, to the Trump 47 Committee. (We estimate Ricketts is worth $4 billion)

John Paulson: The hedge fund billionaire—who is reportedly on Trump’s shortlist for treasury secretary if he wins a second term—hosted a $50 million fundraiser for Trump at his Palm Beach home in April, and co-hosted a Manhattan fundraiser in May with billionaires Woody Johnson and John Catsimatidis. (We estimate Paulson is worth $3.5 billion)

Steve Wynn: Wynn—former casino mogul and Republican National Committee finance chair who was sued by the Justice Department last year for allegedly lobbying Trump on behalf of the Chinese government—was listed as a co-host at Paulson’s Palm Beach fundraiser and donated more than $800,000 to Trump 47 during the first quarter of this year. (We estimate Wynn is worth $3.4 billion)

Geoffrey Palmer: One of Trump’s biggest backers in 2016, the Los Angeles real estate magnate donated $1 million to MAGA Inc. in the second half of 2023, Politico reported, and more than $80,000 to Trump 47 in the first quarter of 2024. (We estimate Palmer is worth $3.1 billion)

Linda McMahon: Donating $11 million to support Trump this election cycle, making her his second-largest donor after Mellon, McMahon is the co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), alongside her husband, Vince McMahon; she served as the administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration under Trump and chairs the America First Policy Institute that promotes Trump’s agenda. (We estimate Vincent McMahon is worth $2.9 billion)

Phil Ruffin: The casino magnate, who co-owns with Trump the Trump International Las Vegas hotel and is said to be one of Trump’s closest friends, also donated more than $800,000 to Trump 47 in the first three months of the year, after helping bankroll his 2020 campaign. (We estimate Ruffin is worth $2.6 billion)

Timothy Dunn: The Texas oil businessman contributed $5 million to MAGA Inc. in the second half of 2023, according to Politico. (We estimate Dunn is worth $2.2 billion)

There are others, too. Some have pledged to support Trump but have not made their donations yet. Blackstone CEO and co-founder Steve Schwarzman is one. Citadel hedge fund founder Ken Griffin, casino mogul, and longtime Trump backer Miriam Adelson are also in this category. 

Management founder Bill Ackman previously backed Nikki Haley and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. but is now expected to endorse Trump. You may recognize his name because he has been a strong advocate for Jewish students on college campuses as antisemitic protests and violence have been prominent since October 7, 2023.  

The Biden campaign relies on celebrity power to bring in the big bucks and interest in Biden. He doesn't get big crowds when he does campaign rallies but the campaign's fundraising is strong. Some in Hollywood are happy to help, though they do not embrace Biden as they did Obama and Bill Clinton. 

Joe Biden left the G7 in Italy a day early and skipped a peace conference on Ukraine with President Zelensky and others in Switzerland to get back to attend a fundraiser in California hosted by George Clooney and Julia Roberts. Jimmy Kimmel was the moderator of a conversation between Biden and Obama. It lasted for forty minutes. The event was expected to bring in $30M for Biden's campaign.

Most of the conversation centered around Trump and the dangers of a second term of office for Trump. Democrats have nothing but divisive issues to run on, like abortion and the abstract idea of saving democracy. They complain that Trump has shattered political and institutional norms. 

Three stooges:

Had a great time catching up with a few good friends.

Together, we will beat Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/TyAP0qj7Mz

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 16, 2024

It's projection. No president in recent history has shattered norms like Joe Biden. He has politicized every federal agency and used the DOJ against Trump and his supporters at a breathtaking level. Biden and his minions have put America in banana republic territory by trying to jail political opponents, especially Trump. 

Enthusiasm for Biden is very low and his popularity is the lowest of any president seeking re-election in decades. Hollywood endorsements aren't going to turn things around. Every day voters don't pay attention to celebrity endorsements. Biden is losing most demographics, including young voters, black voters, Hispanic voters, and independents. If the polls are correct and hold, all the Hollywood money in the world won't get Joe Biden re-elected in November.