MacArthur fundraiser with Trump raises more than $800K
President Donald Trump headlined a fundraiser for New Jersey Rep. Tom MacArthur on Sunday afternoon, raising more than $800,000 for the two-term Republican congressman, according to a spokesman.
The fundraiser, at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, was the first personal fundraiser Trump has held for a House incumbent. About 100 people were in attendance, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
The event was closed to press, but MacArthur campaign strategist Chris Russell said Trump’s remarks focused on MacArthur’s role in revamping the House GOP’s Obamacare replacement bill.
"[Trump] talked about the health care fight,” Russell said. "[He was] very complimentary of Tom and his efforts on health care and, moving forward, sees him as a leader in Washington.”
MacArthur, a multimillionaire former insurance executive who represents the 3rd Congressional District in South Jersey, a swing district, negotiated a key amendment with the Freedom Caucus, which helped secure the bill’s passage in the House last month.
But it also alienated some of his centrist colleagues. MacArthur recently resigned from his role as co-chairman of a group of GOP moderates known as the Tuesday Group.
Senate Republican leaders have been working on their own version of the Obamacare repeal bill.
"[Trump] complimented Tom on being the person that could get it to that point,” Russell said.
The event was hosted by MacArthur Victory, a joint fundraising committee, which includes MacArthur for Congress, the National Republican Congressional Committee, TMAC PAC, and the New Jersey Republican State Committee, according to the invitation.