President Donald Trump says his Super PAC could deploy as much as $500 million ahead of the midterm elections as Republicans face competitive House and Senate races and seek to maintain control of Congress.
President Donald Trump said on Sept. 4 that MAGA Inc., his Super PAC, was allocating as much as $500 million for the midterm elections.
“I think I have close to $1 billion in the Super PAC and I’m allocating probably $4-500 million,” Trump said during remarks in the Oval Office. His comments came roughly two months before the November election and offered a potential boost for Republicans as they face tough races and try to retain control of Congress.
Trump said he would “spend a lot of money because we don’t want to lose our country,” adding that he thought Republicans could do “very well.”
His comments came amid uncertainty over which party would take control of Congress, potentially scuttling Trump’s agenda during the last half of his second term. The figures also add to the large sums already being allocated by the major parties.
The Republican-controlled House could flip to Democratic control, with around 20 races rated as toss-ups by Cook Political Report.
In total, Cook rated 196 seats as solid or likely Democrat, while 202 were rated as solid or likely Republican. Nine seats lean Democratic, while seven lean Republican.
The Senate’s ratings were also uncertain, although Republican control appeared to be the more likely outcome.
Texas’ Senate race between state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico, a Texas state representative, has drawn particular national attention. Polling showed Paxton, whom Trump endorsed, in a dead heat with his more progressive challenger.
In the week following Trump’s remarks, the GOP is expected to gather in Dallas for an unprecedented party convention for the midterms. Republicans will likely use the convention, among other things, to make the case against what they perceive as growing socialist tendencies among Democrats.
“Americans across the country know that President Trump and our Republican leaders in Washington are fighting for them every day while Democrats are nominating mini Mamdani’s,” Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters said in a press release this summer.
He was referring to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.
“The contrast could not be more different, socialism will be rejected, Republicans will win and that is the case we will make in Dallas at our historic Midterm Convention.”
Trump has also issued statements denouncing socialism, which has become a flashpoint for internal tensions among Democrats. Democrats “continue to put their dangerous agenda ahead of the American People by voting AGAINST denouncing Socialism,” he said in a post to TruthSocial on Sept. 4.
His comments came just days after Republicans approved a resolution denouncing socialism.
While some Democrats have distanced themselves from socialism, others, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), have backed democratic socialism and large policy interventions, including universal healthcare.
“I believe that democratic socialists are fundamentally pro-democracy,” Ocasio-Cortez told ABC News in August.
Among those distancing themselves from socialism is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who said last month that he does not support Medicare for All or the agenda of the Democratic Socialists of America, and indicated that his party would counter Republicans’ convention with messaging of its own.
