Donald Trump: Entering 2022 With $122 Million War Chest

Donald J. Trump’s political operation introduced on Monday that it had raised greater than $51 million within the second half of 2021 as the previous president continued to dominate the Republican fund-raising panorama in his first yr out of the White Home.

Mr. Trump’s total conflict chest getting into 2022 stood at $122 million — greater than double the money available of the Republican Nationwide Committee itself — as he continued to solicit his on-line supporters with the identical tempo and depth of the warmth of the marketing campaign.

The massive sum offers Mr. Trump a useful head begin ought to he run for the White Home once more, as he has repeatedly urged is his intention. Mr. Trump’s workforce introduced it processed greater than 1.6 million donations within the final six months of 2021, with a median contribution of $31.

Whereas these funds are saved in federal accounts that legally can’t be spent on a presidential run, free guidelines permit him to completely fund his political operation for now, together with paying for rallies and even tv adverts.

Mr. Trump stays, by far, the preferred Republican amongst Republican voters, however his lead in opposition to hypothetical challengers in 2024, specifically Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, has narrowed in current months as he faces recent challenges to his function because the get together’s undisputed chief.

The introduced sum signifies that Mr. Trump’s fund-raising tempo did gradual in comparison with the primary half of the yr, when he raised $56 million on-line. Mr. Trump raised much less within the final six months of the yr, regardless that he didn’t actively elevate cash for many of January and February of 2021. He had paused sending out requests for money after the riot on the Capitol.

Forward of the 2022 midterm elections, Mr. Trump has already endorsed roughly 100 candidates nationwide, from these making runs for seats starting from state legislators to secretaries of state to United States senators. He additionally gave away a few of his funds, reducing checks to candidates he has endorsed. These checks have typically include letters that candidates typically proudly submit to social media.

All informed, his workforce stated he had made $1.35 million in contributions to candidates whom he has endorsed and to “like-minded causes.”

Taylor Budowich, a spokesman for Mr. Trump, stated the fund-raising figures wouldn’t simply impression the midterms but in addition the election of 2024, when Mr. Trump has urged he might once more run for president.

“President Trump is extremely properly positioned to look past November as the necessity for his management has by no means been extra essential,” Mr. Budowich stated in an announcement.

Mr. Trump’s numerous political committees should file disclosures protecting the final six months of 2021 by midnight on Monday.

Along with his personal political committees, Mr. Trump has raised funds for an allied tremendous PAC referred to as Make America Nice Once more, Once more! Inc. In December, he held a small dinner for tremendous PAC donors at his personal Florida membership, Mar-a-Lago. Seats had been set at $125,000 per particular person, or $250,000 for a pair.

Donors who gave $250,000 to the Trump tremendous PAC included Jose Fanjul, the sugar businessman; Saul Fox, a non-public fairness investor; and Dianne Hendricks, who turned a billionaire promoting housing materials.

The tremendous PAC ended 2021 with $9.5 million within the financial institution. It reported spending $1,438.40 at Mar-a-Lago in December, plus $10,105.09 at Mr. Trump’s Palm Seashore golf membership.