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Trump slams GOP rivals for attending Koch summit


DANA POINT, Calif. -- Billionaire developer Donald Trump on Sunday said his Republican rivals have flocked to a seminar convened by industrialists Charles Koch and David Koch to "beg for money."

"Puppets?" he asked in a tweet.

Only five presidential candidates are speaking at the invitation-only gathering of some 450 wealthy, conservative donors aligned with the Kochs. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former Florida governor Jeb Bush are slated to appear Sunday. Carly Fiorina and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker spoke Saturday.

Trump, who has focused relentlessly on illegal immigration, does not appear to be viewed favorably by the Kochs, who have made reducing the size of government and overhauling the criminal justice system among their priorities.

Trump is self-financing his presidential bid and already has tapped his fortune for $1.8 million, campaign filings show.