Political spending tops $1.8 million at Trump properties this cycle

Campaigns and political groups have spent more than$1.8 millionat Trump properties so far this election cycle. Donald Trump's political operation, which consists of his campaign, fundraising committees and super PACs, has driven the bulk of the political spending, paying more than $1.2 millionto Trump properties. But it's not just Trump's own political apparatus that's providing the payday-Senate campaigns and the National Republican Senatorial Committee have spent more than$366,000at Trump properties, and House campaigns have spent more than $256,000.

Despite the Trump Organization's saleof his eponymous DC hotel, which served as a hub for Republican political fundraising events during Trump's presidency, Trump's profiteering off of his political operation has not missed a beat this election cycle. Spending is instead focused at Mar-a-Lago, which the New York Timesdescribedas the "White House in exile and the nerve center for some of the most extreme elements of the party's MAGA wing."

As Trump faced financial pressures related to civil lawsuits that found him liable for defamation and business fraud this year, his campaign ramped upspending at his properties. In total, his campaign and fundraising committees and super PACs supporting Trump have spent $1,220,747at his properties for catering, facility rentals, lodging and travel expenses. His campaign itself spent $379,314, the Trump Save America Joint Fundraising Committee spent $480,398, the Trump 47 Committee spent $182,883, the Save America PAC spent$82,437, Make America Great Again spent$66,158, Right for America spent$15,157and Make America Great Again, Again! spent $14,399.

Senate candidates in several states have also spent significant campaign funds at Trump properties. Bernie Moreno's Ohio Senate campaign and joint fundraising committee have spent the most, with $111,569 spent at Mar-a-Lago. Kari Lake's Arizona Senate campaign is a close second, spending $103,881at Mar-a-Lago this cycle. Jim Marchant's and Jeff Gunter's failed primary bids in Nevada spent $67,840and$36,150at Trump properties respectively.

Top House campaign spenders have spent tens of thousands at Mar-a-Lago, including Abe Hamadeh spending $56,802, Rep. Dale Strong, whose joint fundraising committee spent $44,283,and Rep. Max Miller spending $36,635.

Political spending at Trump properties dates back to the beginning of his presidency in 2017. When Trump visited his properties 547 timesduring his presidency, that sent a message to members of Congress that visiting and spending money at Trump properties was a way to ingratiate themselves with him and his advisors. One hundred forty three members of Congress chose to do so, including 69 of whom attended political events at the properties.

After Trump's election in 2016, the Trump Organization's newfound political event business and customer base among Republican politicians paid off. Altogether, political groups spent $11.8 millionat Trump properties during Trump's presidency, including more than $3 million at Trump's DC hotel, $1.8 million at his Doral resort, and nearly half a million dollars at Mar-a-Lago. In the aftermath of his presidency and since the sale of the DC hotel, the vast majorityof the events and galas held at Mar-a-Lago since 2021 have been political events aligned with Trump, pushing his talking points like election denial and "America first."

But even with the steady stream of campaigns, political groups and election deniers hosting events at his properties, just like duringhis presidency, it's still Trump's own operation that's funneling the most money to his business.

If Trump is elected to a second term, there's no reason to believe the political spending and profiteering at his properties would stop-it's much more likely that it would intensify.

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