Trump raised $1.5 million less for vets than stated: report

by Jesse Byrnes - 05/20/16 2:48 PM ET

Businessman Donald Trump reportedly raised $1.5 million less for veteran groups at a televised fundraiser than the Republican presidential candidate declared early this year.

“We just cracked $6 million, right? Six million,” Trump said during the Jan. 28 event in Des Moines, Iowa, which was organized to compete with a GOP debate that night he skipped.

{mosads}However, The Washington Post reports that Trump’s campaign says that in reality the fundraiser drew $4.5 million, three-quarters of what the candidate repeatedly said it netted.

Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told the newspaper that some of Trump’s wealthy acquaintances backed out and ended up giving nothing for the groups.

Lewandowski said Trump has followed through on his pledge to give $1 million, though the aide said he didn’t know if that was included as part of the $4.5 million figure.

At least $3.1 million has been donated to veterans’ groups, according to reporting by the Post.

Tags 2016 presidential election Donald Trump Veterans