Since leaving office, former President Trump has maintained Save America, a political action committee (PAC) for raising funds, issuing statements, and endorsing political candidates.
According to campaign finance filings reviewed by WSJ, the former president spent 2021 collecting more than $122 million for his war chest, with more cash on hand than the both Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee — combined.
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So far, Save America has mostly donated to midterm campaigns — like those of Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.
Save America has also given to nonprofits. According to the Journal, the PAC has donated $1 million to the Conservative Partnership Institute, a policymaker managed by Trump’s former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. It has reportedly also been paying for Trump’s lawsuits.
However, Trump has hinted at more long-term ambitions.
“President Trump is incredibly well positioned to look beyond November as the need for his leadership has never been more important,” PAC spokesman Taylor Budowich said in a press release.
Trump has discussed another run for president. He famously called himself “45th and 47th president” on video while golfing.
Sure enough, Trump outraised every other Republican’s PAC in the last half of 2021.
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Finishing in second place behind Trump was the sitting House Minority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. Scalise’s PAC raised $7.9 in the same period, less than one sixth the amount of Trump’s PAC.
Granted, Trump has seen a slight decline in the pace of donations. From July to December, he raised only $51 million on WinRed, compared to more than $70 million before that.
Plus, Trump is seeing his popularity fade among Republicans, with 71% saying they have a favorable opinion of Trump compared with 78% in a September 2020 AP-NORC/USAFacts poll. Only a narrow majority of Republicans — 56% — want him to run for president in 2024, according to the new poll. The poll found that 44% of Republicans do not want Trump to run.
In other words, Trump is losing momentum.
Still, he’s gaining the other two M’s: money and media coverage.
“The MAGA movement is here to stay,” Save America said in the press release.
The Horn editorial team and The Associated Press contributed to this article.