Republicans fear a $350 million war chest is going to waste —thanks to Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump at Mount Rushmore in Keystone, South Dakota, U.S., July 3, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper

In September 2022 during Joe Biden's presidency, Donald Trump launched his super PAC Make America Great Again Inc. (MAGA Inc.). Now, 17 and one half months into Trump's second term, MAGA Inc. has more than $350 million in its war chest. But according to Politico reporter Alex Gangitano, GOP insiders are frustrated that Trump is sitting on that money rather than spending more of it to help Republicans in the 2026 midterms.

"MAGA Inc. hasn't spent directly on a race since March, when it spent $17,900.88 to support Rep. Clay Fuller's campaign for his House seat in Georgia," Gangitano explains in Politico. "Since then, it gave $560,000 to MAGA KY, which was spending to support Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-Ky.) challenger, who won, and it has paid other fees like for consulting, according to FEC filings, which account for spending through the end of May."

A Republican lobbyist/donor, interviewed on condition of anonymity, argues that the MAGA Inc. funds need to be used to get the GOP's midterms message out there.

The GOP insider told Politico, "We didn't leave our most powerful missiles on the ships when we were trying to crush Iran. Money is the political equivalent in politics. The electorate's mindset on the economy is normally locked in stone by Labor Day after a summer of backyard conversations and paying for summer vacation gas. Now is the time to sell the message: America 250, the world loves America, the Democrats are crazy-left again, and we sealed the border."

Trump, according to Gangitano, is sitting on the MAGA Inc. funds at a time when polls are "repeatedly" showing "significant disapproval for Trump and his policies."

GOP strategist Matthew Bartlett, who served in the U.S. State Department during Trump's first presidency, told Politico, "What makes you think they're going to spend? We've been waiting for the cavalry. Every day matters about shaping sentiment and ideas, and when you have limited time, you should be attacking that early. So, the notion of waiting is just inherently concerning…. but even more of like, are you even actually going to be playing?"

A Republican insider described by Bartlett as someone "close to the White House" believes that concerns about Trump sitting on $350 million during the midterms are "well-placed."

The GOP source, also interviewed on condition of anonymity, told Politico, "I tend to believe he's not going to spend it on other races and other folks, but I hope I'm wrong."

U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Florida) is sounding the alarm as well.

The conservative congressman told Politico, "If Republicans are to defy political gravity and avoid a result along the lines of 2018, they need all the resources they can get as soon as possible. While Democrats are not in a robust financial position, Republicans will need to turn out their base and persuade swing voters against the current. That takes a lot of money."

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