NEW YORK (AP) _ President Donald Trump raised an estimated $5 million at a fundraiser in New York on Tuesday night — money that will benefit the Republican Party and his 2020 re-election campaign.

Trump headlined the fundraising dinner at the upscale Le Cirque restaurant in Manhattan, which drew about 150 people paying as much as $250,000 per couple, said Republican National Committee spokeswoman Cassie Smedile. Reporters were not allowed to hear any portion of the president's remarks to donors — a break from the protocol of Trump's predecessor.

Tickets for the dinner cost $35,000 per couple, or $100,000 for VIP access. Trump also participated in a smaller roundtable discussion with donors who'd paid $250,000 per couple to attend.

Trump's brief trip back to Manhattan included a stop at the United Nations to meet with the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, and other U.S. diplomatic officials.

In video of the visit posted on his Twitter feed, Trump described Haley as "a very special person'' and urged members of her team and their families to "take good care'' of her.

He also told those gathered: "We're going to do things like the world has never even dreamed of. We're going to do it through the United Nations, too.''

Trump also spent last week in his home town, attending events and meeting with world leaders as part of the annual United Nations General Assembly.

Trump has a complicated relationship with many Republican leaders, but worked closely with the RNC during his general election campaign.

The RNC has also paid nearly $200,000 in legal fees for Trump's eldest son in connection with the ongoing Russia investigation. As of mid-July, Trump's presidential campaign had spent almost $1 million on legal fees this year, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission. That included a $50,000 charge to the law firm of Donald Trump Jr.'s attorney, Alan Futerfas.

Trump confirmed Tuesday that he will travel to Puerto Rico next week to assess the damage and response efforts following Hurricane Maria.

The island has been coping with shortages of food, drinking water, electricity, and various forms of communication after the massive storm struck last week.

Trump said Tuesday is the earliest he can visit without disrupting recovery operations.

He said he may also visit the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Puerto Rico's governor said he spoke with the president as recently as Monday night and said Trump offered a waiver allowing cash-strapped Puerto Rico to avoid contributing to the initial federal aid costs.

The president tweeted about response efforts Monday night for the first time since Maria hit Puerto Rico.

While in Washington on Tuesday, Trump said the island is important to him, adding that Puerto Ricans are "great people and we need to help them."

He also signed off on additional disaster assistance to aid "debris removal and emergency protective measures."