Trump Amasses Over $1.5B in Political Funds Ahead of Midterms

The former president's massive war chest could reshape Republican politics for years to come.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Former President Donald Trump has claimed to have raised over $1.5 billion in political funds since his 2024 reelection, a staggering sum that dwarfs the amounts raised by his predecessors. This mountain of cash could allow Trump to wield significant influence over the upcoming midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race, though the extent to which he will open his pocketbook remains to be seen.

Why it matters

Trump's massive political war chest represents an unprecedented level of fundraising by a former president, giving him the potential to reshape the Republican party and its agenda for years to come. The funds could be used to support or oppose specific candidates in GOP primaries, as well as to fund Trump's own political activities and potentially even benefit his businesses.

The details

Much of Trump's political cash comes from the MAGA Inc. super PAC, which raised over $100 million in the last six months of 2025 and entered this year with more than $300 million. The Republican National Committee also reported raising $172 million last year. There is also a constellation of pro-Trump nonprofits that are only required to release limited financial information, making it difficult to track where the money is being spent. Trump has a history of using political funds to benefit his own businesses, such as by holding events at his properties or billing his campaign for the use of his airplane.

  • On the day after his 2024 election win, Trump ordered staff to begin fundraising anew.
  • In the last six months of 2025, the MAGA Inc. super PAC raised over $100 million.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who has claimed to have raised over $1.5 billion in political funds since his 2024 reelection.

MAGA Inc.

A pro-Trump super PAC that has raised over $100 million in the last six months of 2025 and entered this year with more than $300 million.

Republican National Committee

The Republican Party's national committee, which reported raising $172 million last year.

Securing American Greatness

A pro-Trump nonprofit organization that is only required to release limited financial information.

Greg Brockman

The co-founder of OpenAI who donated $25 million to MAGA Inc. last year.

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What they’re saying

“One of the main reasons a lame-duck president might want to amass this much money is to maintain political relevance. Certainly he's been far more aggressive about this than any of his predecessors.”

— Daniel Weiner, Former Federal Election Commission attorney and current director of the Brennan Center's Elections and Government Program (nashvilleledger.com)

“Because there are virtually no restrictions on what super PAC money can be used for, it essentially can be operated as a slush fund at the disposal of whoever controls it.”

— Daniel Weiner, Former Federal Election Commission attorney and current director of the Brennan Center's Elections and Government Program (nashvilleledger.com)

“Each of these wealthy individuals, corporations, they are ponying up for a purpose. What we're seeing with Trump's administration is just an unprecedented level of pay-to-play.”

— Saurav Ghosh, Federal campaign finance reform director at the Campaign Legal Center (nashvilleledger.com)

What’s next

The extent to which Trump will open his political war chest to influence the upcoming midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race remains to be seen. His willingness to spend big on races where he is not directly running has been limited in the past, but the sheer size of his fundraising haul could give him unprecedented sway over the Republican party's agenda and candidates.

The takeaway

Trump's massive political war chest represents an unprecedented level of fundraising by a former president, giving him the potential to reshape the Republican party for years to come. However, the extent to which he will actually use these funds to influence elections and policy remains uncertain, as he has a history of not always following through on his threats or spending big on races where he is not directly running.