In the United States, Republican election campaigns and political action committees have spent nearly $3 million at the businesses of President Donald Trump since his return to office.
This is reported by The Washington Post.
Spending continued even after Trump’s Washington hotel, once the centre of his political and fundraising activity during his first term, ceased operating under the “Trump Organization”.
Instead, Republican money has moved south — to the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Spending at the Florida club has risen by more than threefold, adjusted for inflation, compared with the same period of his first term.
From January 2025 to September this year, Republican campaigns and political groups in the Senate and the House of Representatives spent $2.9 million on fundraising, accommodation, food and other expenses at Trump’s resorts. Over the same period in 2025, the figure was $3.3 million.
The Republican National Committee spent the most — nearly $1.8 million — on services at Trump properties. It is followed by Trump’s main “super political action committee” (super PAC), MAGA Inc., as well as the National Republican Congressional Committee.
“Although overall spending has declined slightly, the continued payments point to an enduring financial link between the Republican Party’s political apparatus and the private businesses of the president who leads it,” WP notes.
At Mar-a-Lago, campaign operatives also bought gifts in Trump’s merchandise shops and hosted donors at Trump’s residences. “Lawmakers and lobbyists are willing to fly hundreds of miles from their districts and from Washington to spend money at properties owned by the president,” the newspaper adds.
Spending Pace Slowed by a Drop in Trump’s Approval Rating
The pace of spending has slowed in recent months as Trump’s approval rating fell to a low, and polls showed Democrats are likely to take control of the House of Representatives after the midterm elections on 3 November.
From June to the end of September, Republican groups spent $336,000 at Trump businesses, compared with $949,000 over the same period of his first term.
It is worth noting that campaign spending at the president’s properties has received less media attention than during his first presidency. It is no longer seen as something new, and public attention is being diverted by larger conflicts. This time, Trump’s declared income — more than $2.2 billion in 2025 — was generated mainly by new business ventures rather than his real estate.
According to the latest financial disclosures, last year the US president received more than $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency operations, digital tokens and related partnerships.