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Fact check: Yes, Trump did donate to Kamala Harris' past campaigns

The claim: Donald and Ivanka Trump donated money to past Kamala Harris campaigns, and Harris donated that money

Since Democratic nominee Joe Biden's announcement of California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate, claims have abounded regarding her presidential eligibility and alleged quotes. Another claim asserts Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka, while private citizens, donated to Harris' attorney general campaigns.

Red, bold words read "Fun Fact" at the top of a meme that says $6,000 was given by the Trumps.

"Then, Kamala refused to spend the Trump's money, and instead donated it to a nonprofit that helps Hispanics and immigrants," the meme, which has received more than 2,800 likes on Instagram, says.

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USA TODAY was unable to reach the Instagram user who posted the meme for comment.

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Donating as private citizens

Harris served as California's attorney general from 2011-2017, when she was elected to the Senate.

Though Donald Trump has a history of derisive comments about Harris since taking office, political contribution data, reviewed by USA TODAY on the California Secretary of State website show he gave $5,000 to Harris during her first bid for attorney general in 2011 and $1,000 in 2013 during her reelection. Ivanka Trump contributed $2,000 in 2014 for Harris' reelection campaign.

Donald Trump declared his candidacy for president in June 2015.

A spokesman for Harris said she did not keep the contributions in 2011 and 2013, according to an interview with the Sacramento Bee, which is owned by McClatchy.

"Harris campaign spokesman Ian Sams told McClatchy that Harris donated the $6,000 Trump had contributed to a nonprofit that advocates for civil and human rights for Central Americans," reporter Emily Cadei wrote. "But that donation wasn’t made until 2015, a year after she won her reelection for attorney general and as she was launching her run for the Senate."

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Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., attends a gun safety forum Oct. 2, 2019, in Las Vegas.
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., attends a gun safety forum Oct. 2, 2019, in Las Vegas.

It is unclear whether the 2014 donation from Ivanka Trump similarly was donated or used for Harris' attorney general campaign. The Washington Examiner, which, in addition to Fox News, brought the donations to light last year, also expressed uncertainty. USA TODAY reached out to the Biden-Harris campaign for clarification but didn't receive a response.

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Our ruling: True

We rate this claim as TRUE, based on our research. Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka donated to Harris' campaigns for California attorney general. Though Harris' spokesman said $6,000, as the meme suggests, was donated to a nonprofit group, the Trumps actually donated a total of $8,000. It is unclear whether Harris returned Ivanka Trump's contribution or similarly donated it. The donations to Harris' campaigns were given before Trump's 2016 election.

Our fact-check sources:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Donald Trump did donate to Kamala Harris' past campaigns