Melania Trump criticizes a New York Times report that the high-dollar fundraiser she attended was canceled after an investigation found that the charity hosting him did not exist.
The former first lady said the fundraising, originally scheduled for April, has been postponed to December. And she argues that this should be done because the attention drawn from an earlier Times publication has sparked a high demand for tickets.
“The High Tea event has not been canceled. It is scheduled for December 4, 2022, “tweeted Melania Trump’s office on Thursday night.
“As a result of the inaccurate reports of the New York Times, we attracted the attention of many more people than expected and needed more space. Thanks to all the amazing supporters of the foster children, “she added.
Melania Trump criticizes the New York Times report that the fundraiser she attended was canceled after the charity did not register in the state of Florida
In January, Melania Trump promoted a Tulip and Topiary fundraising campaign in Naples, Florida with flowers, tea and bubbles.
Tickets reached $ 50,000 for the VIP table, with the money going to scholarships for children out of child care.
But New York Times announced that the event was canceled because Whip Fundraising, the fundraising company, did not properly register as a charity until Florida officials began investigating the matter.
Florida requires certain organizations that want donations to first register with the state.
“They haven’t been registered as a professional lawyer or fundraising consultant and are working to correct that,” said Erin Moffett, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which oversees state charities. times.
She said the event, scheduled for April 9, had been canceled and that all proceeds from ticket sales would be donated to GenJustice, a non-profit group registered in Florida as a charity that helps foster children. .
The state investigation into the case has been completed.
However, the website for the event “Tulips and Topiaries” reads in large letters “We have not canceled”.
He marks the new date in December and adds: “Many thanks to Eric Lipton and Shane Goldsmacher of the New York Times, thanks to your story – we needed more space!”
Brad Keltner, head of Whip Fundraising, told the Times that his company had not broken any rules and was initially informed that it was not necessary with the state.
After contacting state investigators, he said he worked to be registered. And he reiterated Melania’s claim that the event was postponed so that more space could be reserved.
“The state of Florida didn’t shut us down,” he said. “It was an internal decision made because of the huge response we were not prepared to deal with.”
Tulip and Topiary Fundraising Website.
Melania Trump has been raising money privately since leaving the White House, including selling at auction the iconic white hat she wore during the French president’s state visit in April 2018 – she suffered a $ 80,000 loss from the sale
Melania Trump’s office has consistently refused to answer questions from and other news outlets about how much of the money from her events and auctions goes to charity and how much she keeps.
She and former President Donald Trump have been collecting private money from their time at the White House. Donald Trump published a picture book and the couple hosted a holiday party that guests paid to attend.
Melania Trump also auctioned items, including NFT artwork and the iconic white hat she wore during Trump’s first state visit to the White House.
But it suffered a loss of $ 80,000 in its online hat auction after the sale coincided with a collapse in the cryptocurrency market. It has auctioned off items to be paid for in digital currency.
She also suffered a loss at her first auction, selling her first-ever NFT: a digital watercolor painting of her eyes that came with an audio message describing her “vision.”
Entitled “The Vision of Melania,” the digital painting signed by Melania and Coulomb was initially valued at about $ 185 and sold for $ 150.