TRENTON, NJ – Bill Spadea, a pro-Trump Republican candidate for New Jersey governor and former radio host, is facing backlash after a Politico bombshell report revealed his campaign’s fundraising tactics, which prominently feature former President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, while charging unsuspecting Trump supporters monthly fees.
The controversy has reportedly stirred frustration within the Trump organization, with insiders claiming that Trump and some family members are upset over what they see as a “bait and switch” scheme exploiting the Trump brand.
Spadea, who launched his gubernatorial bid in June 2024, has leaned heavily on his proclaimed allegiance to Trump, frequently invoking the former president’s name and image in campaign solicitations. One such appeal, highlighted in the Politico report, featured Melania Trump and a poll about her, urging donors to “KEEP THIS BOX CHECKED” to authorize recurring monthly donations.
Only in the fine print at the bottom did it clarify that contributions would benefit Spadea’s campaign for governor—a detail many donors missed. The report found that numerous Trump supporters, often elderly retirees from outside New Jersey, were unaware they were donating to Spadea, with some believing their money was supporting Trump directly.
This fundraising strategy has drawn scrutiny not only for its lack of transparency but also for its reliance on Trump’s name, despite Spadea’s inconsistent track record of support for the former president.
Compounding the frustrations for the Trump family was the news that Spadea promised to use the money to support pro-Trump Republican candidates, but it turns out he was also paying himself. Reports estimate his self-payments at $65,000. Spadea confirmed that he was paying himself and said the PAC he runs actually owes him more money.
While Trump praised Spadea during a May 2024 radio interview, saying, “I know you’ve had my back the whole time,” archival clips tell a different story.
Our sources named Eric Trump as being disappointed with the situation.
In the past, Spadea criticized Trump, stating on air that he should not run for president again and urging him to “let somebody else run.” He also accused Trump of failing to deliver on key promises during his first term, a stark contrast to the unwavering loyalty Spadea now projects.
The Politico exposé has fueled speculation about a rift between Spadea and the Trump camp.
Insiders within the Trump organization, speaking anonymously, claim that Trump and some family members are displeased with Spadea’s tactics, particularly the use of their names to solicit funds from MAGA loyalists—many of whom, according to the report, had never heard of the New Jersey candidate.
“It’s a bait and switch,” one source said. “They’re not happy about it.”
At this time, it remains unclear whether Trump or his family will issue a formal statement addressing the matter, but rumors are swirling that the former president is considering distancing himself from Spadea’s campaign.
Spadea’s campaign has defended its approach, with digital fundraising adviser Mike Hahn asserting that “Bill’s pro-Trump, conservative message is resonating with [donors] on a national scale” and that the campaign adheres to “industry best practices.”
However, the revelations have intensified an already contentious Republican primary, where Spadea faces rivals like Jack Ciattarelli, Jon Bramnick, and Ed Durr, all vying to succeed term-limited Democratic Governor Phil Murphy in 2025.
Ciattarelli, in particular, has seized on the controversy, with his campaign previously labeling Spadea “a phony and a fraud.”
For Trump supporters like Margaret McLendon, an 85-year-old Georgia retiree who unknowingly donated $590 to Spadea’s campaign, the tactics feel like a betrayal. “It bothers me a lot,” she told Politico. “My funds are limited.”
Similarly, Laurie Daiger, a 73-year-old from Washington state, expressed dismay after discovering she had given over $1,000 in more than 20 donations to Spadea’s affiliated PAC, Elect Common Sense, under the impression she was aiding Trump. “It’s so dirty and rotten to do that,” she said.
As the June primary approaches, Spadea’s reliance on Trump’s name—and the fallout from his fundraising methods—could jeopardize his standing with the MAGA base he has courted so aggressively. With Trump’s influence looming large over New Jersey’s Republican electorate, any formal rebuke from the former president or his family could upend Spadea’s campaign. For now, the Trump organization’s silence leaves the situation unresolved, but the growing unease suggests that Spadea’s gambit may have come at a steep cost.