Donald Trump has pledged to spend more than $400 million supporting Republican candidates in the November 3 midterm elections, as his party faces a fight to retain its narrow majorities in Congress.
The US president said more than $300 million had already been used for advertising, voter outreach, rallies, get-out-the-vote efforts and election-integrity programmes.
“It is my Great Honor to do so on behalf of the Republican Party, which has done so much to bring our Country back from the Edge of Oblivion,” Mr Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
He described the vote as “the Most Important Midterm Elections in our Country’s History”, but did not provide a detailed breakdown of the proposed spending or say how much would be directed towards individual contests.
The financial commitment comes as Republicans encounter growing opposition over the economy and the protracted US-Israeli war against Iran. Mr Trump’s approval ratings have also fallen to record lows, with a Reuters-Ipsos poll this week putting approval of his performance at 31 per cent.
Some Republican candidates have attempted to distance themselves from the president, while others have called for greater support in closely fought races against Democrats.
Trump allies build Republican campaign war chest
Questions have surrounded whether Mr Trump and his allies would draw on the funds held by MAGA Inc, the super PAC associated with his Make America Great Again movement.
Super PACs can raise unlimited sums to support or oppose federal candidates, although their spending is legally required to remain independent of candidates’ campaigns. The Campaign Legal Center accused Mr Trump last month of breaching those rules by claiming control over MAGA Inc’s spending.
The watchdog cited remarks Mr Trump made to reporters in the Oval Office on September 4, when he was asked when money would begin reaching Republican candidates. He replied that he would spend “whatever amount of money necessary” and added: “This is money from MAGA Inc. This is my money that I control.”
MAGA Inc reported $415.8 million in cash reserves at the beginning of September, making it one of the largest financial resources available to Republican campaigns. Mr Trump has nevertheless questioned why the group’s spending had not improved Republican polling in key races, including in Ohio.
Other groups aligned with the president have increased their advertising, including the No Going Back PAC and the Safety and Affordability PAC, which were both linked to MAGA Inc. The No Going Back PAC spent $68.7 million on political adverts last month, according to the advertising tracker AdImpact.
Elon Musk, the technology entrepreneur and a Trump ally, has reportedly spent $366 million since last year on Republican campaigns through America PAC and other conservative and Republican organisations.
Mr Trump has also begun a 32-day campaign blitz, with planned stops including South Carolina and Iowa, as both chambers of Congress remain in play.
Republicans currently hold slim majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives. A Democratic victory in either chamber would allow the party to obstruct Mr Trump’s legislative programme during the final two years of his presidency.
