Many GOP mega-donors not willing to support Trump: report

Many powerful GOP donors are still resisting presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, The New York Times reported Saturday.

{mosads}Among those refusing to donate to Trump are Paul E. Singer, a New York investor who has spent at least $28 million for national Republicans since 2012, and Joe Ricketts, the TD Ameritrade founder who spent nearly $30 million in the same time period, the report said.

Hedge fund managers William Oberndorf and Seth Klarman and Florida hospital executive Mike Fernandez also don’t plan to donate to Trump.

“If it is Trump vs. Clinton, I will be voting for Hillary,” Oberndorf reportedly said.

The Times reported having contacted 50 major GOP donors, and nine responded that they will contribute to Trump’s campaign. Among them are casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who publicly endorsed Trump last week; energy executive T. Boone Pickens; Foster Friess, a wealthy mutual fund investor; and Richard H. Roberts, a pharmaceutical executive.

Friess on Saturday told The Hill, “I believe that as Republicans continue to unite behind Donald Trump, he’ll become an even better candidate.”

Others are waiting for Trump to earn their support, including Betsy DeVos, a Michigan Republican whose family gave nearly $9.5 million over the last three elections.

“Until we have a better reason to embrace and support the top of the ticket, and see an agenda that is truly an opportunity agenda, then we have lots of other options in which to invest and spend our time helping,” she said, according to the Times.