Former US President Donald Trump has issued a strikingly personal and dramatic plea for political donations, telling supporters he is working "alone" in the White House with only a "dying laptop" for company.
A Dramatic Plea from the 'War Room'
In an email sent to his voter base on 14 January 2026, Trump painted a vivid picture of isolation. He claimed to be sitting by himself in the White House war room after staff had departed, with a laptop running out of battery and a countdown clock ticking towards a fundraising deadline.
The message, verified by multiple sources and sent by the entity 'Never Surrender, Inc.', framed the financial appeal as a critical battle to stop the "radical Left" from seizing control of Congress. Trump warned that failure would lead to "open borders forever," gun confiscation, and the "brainwashing" of children. He also referenced the threat of another "FAKE impeachment" targeting him.
This is not the first unconventional fundraising appeal from Trump. In a previous email cited from last year, he linked a request for money to his survival of an assassination attempt, stating, "I want to try and get to Heaven," and suggesting God saved him "TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
Fundraising Success Amid Mounting Controversy
The latest email blast comes as Trump's associated political machinery continues to raise significant sums. According to Federal Election Commission records, 'Never Surrender, Inc.' raised $1,865,656.03 in 2025.
However, the plea for funds coincides with growing public anger directed at the Trump administration, specifically concerning the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. This tension has even sparked criticism from some of Trump's traditional allies.
ICE Backlash and Political Fallout
The political context for Trump's email is charged, following the emergence of disturbing footage from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The video shows ICE agents forcibly removing a disabled woman from her car as she attempted to drive to a medical appointment.
In the incident, agents smashed the vehicle's windows, cut her seatbelt with a knife, and arrested her. Nearby protests were broken up by officers, with some demonstrators appearing to be pushed to the ground.
The aggressive tactics have drawn fierce condemnation, notably from prominent far-right podcaster and Trump supporter Joe Rogan. On his show, Rogan questioned the direction of immigration enforcement, asking, "Are we really going to be the Gestapo? 'Where's your papers?' Is that what we've come to?"
This internal criticism highlights the difficult balance the administration faces, even as it seeks to mobilise its core supporters through urgent financial appeals like the one sent from Trump's supposedly lonely war room.
