Ken Griffin and Paul Singer, two influential Republican billionaires known for their past criticism of Donald Trump, have held discussions with the former president about potentially supporting his bid to return to the White House, Bloomberg News reported.
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Meanwhile, Griffin, the founder of Citadel, met with Trump at the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia two weeks ago, Bloomberg News reported.
Singer, who founded investment firm Elliott Management, had a separate meeting with Trump recently.
The meetings come as Trump’s campaign gains momentum due to a recent influx of donations in the wake of his felony conviction and missteps by President Joe Biden.
Neither Griffin nor Singer have previously donated to Trump’s presidential campaigns, despite being among the Republican Party’s biggest donors. Their potential support would mark a significant change, as both have been vocal critics of Trump in the past.
Singer had expressed concerns in 2016 that Trump’s trade policies could lead to a “global depression,” and Griffin referred to Trump as a “three-time loser” in 2022, after the Republicans’ disappointing performance in the midterm elections.
The financial support from Griffin and Singer could provide a major boost to Trump’s campaign. Griffin has donated $233 million to federal elections since 2015, while Singer has donated $89 million, Bloomberg News reported, citing OpenSecrets data.
Both have backed a number of super PACs and candidates, including donating $5 million each to a super PAC allied with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
The hedge fund managers’ decision to back Trump’s 2024 campaign is still up in the air, with Griffin indicating that his decision will be influenced by Trump’s choice of a running mate.