Some Republican donors are growing uneasy that party officials have yet to tap into more than $300 million sitting in a MAGA-aligned super PAC with six months until the midterm elections, according to a report.
MAGA Inc. PAC, established in 2023 to support candidates aligned with President Donald Trump, has approximately $347 million in cash on hand. But much of that has yet to be distributed to candidates hoping to retain their seats in the House or Senate.
It’s worried some Republicans who believe Trump is underestimating the challenge that GOP candidates face with voters frustrated over economic challenges like high gas prices and food costs caused by the president’s unpopular Iran war.
Others reportedly fear the super PAC will hold out on spending for candidates and use the money for Trump’s interests, such as investing in a successor.
One unnamed Republican donor told Politico that “mild panic will set in soon” unless officials begin distributing funds by early summer.
The Independent has asked MAGA Inc. for comment.
Trump does not oversee MAGA Inc., since super PACs are barred from coordinating directly with candidates. But the president does influence it with endorsements and policy priorities.
Super PACs are a powerful tool for political parties because they can collect an unlimited amount of money from donors and use it on independent expenditures, such as advertising, communications, research, polling and operational costs
As a second-term president, Trump cannot run again. Typically, outgoing presidents will focus on raising money for their party and boosting candidates – especially ahead of midterms when the president’s party is likely to lose seats in the House.
The last time a sitting president’s party gained House seats in a midterm was 2002, when George W. Bush was president.
One former Trump administration official told Politico the lack of answers is “causing concerns for donors.”
“Is Trump really committed to the midterms, because if he were, he would spend his money first. He’s going to spend some, but most donors would be shocked if he spent 10 percent of it,” the unnamed former official told the news outlet.
Sources close to Trump told the Associated Press in February that the president is eager to help Republicans, despite his reluctance to spend on other races.
MAGA Inc. spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer dismissed the validity of Politico’s report
“Politico and its unnamed, irrelevant sources don’t know what the hell they are talking about. We don’t disclose our battle plans through the press,” Pfeiffer told Politico.
An unnamed senior White House official also dismissed concerns from Republican donors and said MAGA Inc. money would be spent where needed.
Polling shows Trump’s approval rating is below 40 percent, the lowest of his second term.
Voters express deep frustrations with his focus on foreign intervention, particularly in the Middle East. Trump campaigned on a platform of preventing new wars from starting, but started a conflict with Iran nevertheless. He argues it was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, but as weeks drag on, it’s unclear how attainable that may be.
A second Republican donor told Politico that candidates are likely more concerned with the president’s war in Iran driving up gas prices domestically than with using millions of dollars for their party.
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