According to a report by Washington Post report columnist Karen Tumulty, “the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, which runs the 40th president’s library near Los Angeles, has demanded that President Trump and the Republican National Committee (RNC) quit raising campaign money by using Ronald Reagan’s name and likeness.”
Citing the letter, The Post explained that “what came to the foundation’s attention — and compelled officials there to complain — was a fundraising email that went out July 19 with ‘Donald J. Trump’ identified as the sender and a subject line that read: “Ronald Reagan and Yours Truly.”
According to the newspaper, “the solicitation offered, for a donation of $45 or more, a ‘limited edition’ commemorative set featuring two gold-colored coins, one each with an image of Reagan and Trump. The coins were mounted with a 1987 photograph of Reagan and Trump shaking hands in a White House receiving line — the type of fleeting contact that presidents have with thousands of people a year. Proceeds from the coin sales went to the Trump Make America Great Again Committee, a joint fundraising operation that benefits both the Trump campaign and the RNC.”
Reacting to the news, former Republican strategist Steve Schmidt tweeted that “Ronald and Nancy Reagan would have been appalled by Trump’s malice, stupidity and desecration’s.”
Inscribed on President Reagan’s grave “ I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph and there is purpose and worth to each and every life.” Ronald and Nancy Reagan would have been appalled by Trump’s malice, stupidity and desecration’s. https://t.co/VimD9CCvYS
— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) July 26, 2020
Killer kicker by @ktumulty –> https://t.co/hJ8SBD5M4M pic.twitter.com/TvYu14b8YA
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) July 25, 2020