Trump’s PACs
Trump’s PACs
What’s a one-term, twice-impeached president with a massive fanbase to do but… suck it dry for every last penny?
Typically, party leaders use their influence and fundraising prowess not just to fund their own ambitions but to spread money to other candidates. But instead of helping Republicans win the 2022 midterms, Trump seems more interested in raking in as much cash as possible and keeping it in his own war chest in a bid to make other GOP politicians financially dependent on him.
As of Aug. 3, Politico reported various PACs and fundraising committees affiliated with Trump have accumulated $102 million six months after he left office, but reviews of FEC filings show they have spent precisely zero dollars on his efforts to overturn the 2020 elections or on other Republican candidates as promised. The documents show that Make America Great Again PAC, Save America PAC, and the Save America Joint Fundraising Committee aren’t contributing to the midterm elections, but Trump has spent millions of dollars “on things like salaries for aides and political advisers, as well as events, travel expenses and fundraising outreach to supporters,” and $8 million on legal fees. According to Politico, the only money any of the groups donated to outside organizations was $1 million to America First Policy Institute, which is staffed with former Trump administration officials.
The Washington Post reported has raised the Save America PAC has raised the vast majority of the money, with Trump telling advisers he thinks keeping an inflated account for himself will show strength for the 2024 elections. Other advisers have told Trump that he could spend it on rallies featuring himself during the midterms, according to the Post.
Former Federal Election Commission associate general counsel and current Campaign Legal Center chief of staff Adav Noti told the Guardian the PAC’s history of advertising that it would contest the election and then stockpiling money or using it to pay off unrelated debts was “dangerously close to fraud” and any normal person who did so would “face a serious risk of prosecution.” CNN and Business Insider reported there’s little stopping Trump from spending the PAC’s funds to throw rallies, employ his horrible children, or throw events at Trump-owned or operated properties where the cash will flow back into his own pocket.
The Save America PAC has used so-called “dark patterns” to trick supporters into donating more money than they may have intended to, such as setting donations to recurring by default. It was more recently in the news for pitching supporters on the idea of buying $20-50 membership cards with a graphic of an eagle that looks a hell of a lot like a Reichsadler, with one version bearing the misspelled phrase “Trump Offical Card”.
