President Donald Trump has told advisers he plans to continue raising money for his political operation, aiming to preserve his political influence after the Republican Party's midterm election losses, according to Axios. As Democrats prepare congressional investigations into his administration, maintaining a political organization could give Trump a way to pressure GOP lawmakers considering breaking with him and try to influence the 2028 presidential race.
MAGA Inc. has been the centerpiece of Trump's political operation during his second term, raising nearly $450 million since the start of 2025. It spent more than $400 million on the midterm elections, making it one of the election's biggest spending forces, according to a source familiar with the totals, though the investment failed to prevent Republicans from losing control of Congress. The group successfully enforced party discipline in primaries, helping to defeat outspoken Trump critic Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
Major donors to the PAC include cryptocurrency and AI industry figures, as well as Republican megadonors Elon Musk and Miriam Adelson. Trump has hosted high-dollar fundraising dinners at Mar-a-Lago and his Virginia golf club that drew business leaders. The New York Times has reported that a medical products company whose executives and affiliates gave $5 million to MAGA Inc. later benefited from an administration decision to delay Medicare reimbursement restrictions.
MAGA Inc. had more than $164 million in the bank as of Oct. 14, but it spent tens of millions more on TV and digital advertising in the campaign's final weeks, so it is unclear how much remains. Republicans say Trump's diminished political clout will make attracting large contributions harder in the future. The prospect of congressional investigations into alleged pay-for-play arrangements involving donors to Trump's political operation could further discourage checks. Technology executives who contributed heavily to the group may increasingly turn to Democrats, while major Republican donors may shift their attention to prospective 2028 candidates.
A MAGA Inc. spokesperson declined to comment, and White House spokespeople did not respond to a request for comment.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Trump's continued fundraising operation will allow him to act as a power broker within the party during his lame-duck period, potentially complicating GOP efforts to rebrand.
- The reliance on mega-donors with business before the government, combined with incoming Democratic oversight, exposes the administration to intense scrutiny.
- The robust fundraising creates a significant financial hurdle for any 2028 Republican candidate who wishes to chart a different course from Trump.
Background
Donald Trump is the current US President. He suffered a political setback in the November 2026 midterm elections when Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress. His super PAC, MAGA Inc., has been the primary instrument of his political fundraising and spending since his second term began.
Key Perspectives
President Donald Trump: According to Axios, Trump told advisers he plans to keep raising money for his political operation to salvage his clout and continue to influence Republican politics and the 2028 presidential contest.
Republican operatives: Operatives told Axios they believe Trump's diminished political clout and the loss of congressional majorities will make raising money much harder, especially with the threat of Democratic investigations.
Donors: The source indicates that technology and AI industry donors may pivot to Democrats, while traditional Republican megadonors are expected to look toward potential 2028 presidential candidates rather than Trump's operation.
What to Watch
- Whether incoming Democratic committee chairs launch investigations into the White House's relationship with MAGA Inc. donors.
- The fundraising numbers of other potential 2028 Republican candidates to see who consolidates the donor base Trump is vacating.
- How Trump deploys his remaining funds: will he try to punish GOP defectors or support loyalists in primaries.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTrump told advisers he plans to continue raising money for his political operation.Axios: “President Trump has told advisers that he plans to keep raising money for his political operation”
- SupportedThe fundraising is aimed at salvaging Trump’s clout after the GOP’s midterm debacle.Axios: “a move aimed at salvaging his clout after the GOP's midterm debacle.”
- SupportedMAGA Inc. raised nearly $450 million since the beginning of 2025.Axios: “MAGA Inc., the centerpiece of Trump's political operation during his second term, raising nearly $450 million since the beginning of 2025.”
- SupportedDemocrats are preparing congressional investigations into Trump’s administration.Axios: “Democrats prepare congressional investigations into his administration.”
- SupportedMaintaining a political organization could give Trump a way to pressure GOP lawmakers who consider breaking with him.Axios: “It also would give Trump a way to pressure GOP lawmakers who consider breaking with him”
- SupportedMaintaining a political organization could give Trump a vehicle to try to influence the 2028 presidential race.Axios: “Maintaining a political organization — either his existing MAGA Inc. super PAC or one to be created — would give Trump a vehicle to try to influence elections in 2028 and beyond, including the next presidential contest.”
- SupportedMAGA Inc. spent more than $400 million on the midterms.Axios: “MAGA Inc. spent more than $400 million on the midterms”
- SupportedThat spending made MAGA Inc. one of the election’s biggest spending forces.Axios: “making it one of the election's biggest spending forces, according to a source familiar with the totals.”
- SupportedMAGA Inc.’s spending failed to prevent Republicans from losing control of Congress.Axios: “The massive investment failed to prevent Republicans from losing control of Congress”
- SupportedMAGA Inc. enforced party discipline in the 2026 primaries and helped defeat Thomas Massie, an outspoken Trump critic from Kentucky.Axios: “MAGA Inc. enforced party discipline during the 2026 primary campaigns when it helped defeat Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie (R), an outspoken Trump critic.”
- SupportedA medical products company whose executives and affiliates gave MAGA Inc. $5 million benefited from an administration decision to delay Medicare reimbursement restrictions.Axios: “The New York Times reported that a medical products company whose executives and affiliates gave $5 million to MAGA Inc. benefited from an administration decision to delay Medicare reimbursement restrictions, for example.”
- SupportedMAGA Inc. had more than $164 million in the bank on October 14, then spent tens of millions more on advertising, leaving its remaining balance unclear.Axios: “As of Oct. 14, MAGA Inc. had more than $164 million in the bank, though it spent tens of millions more on TV and digital advertising in the campaign's final weeks so it's unclear how much remains.”