The Republican Party is entering the midterm election season, and a significant issue looms regarding Donald Trump’s substantial Super PAC funds. As of July 31, MAGA Inc. reported over $400 million in its coffers, surpassing the financial reserves of any major party committee.
Despite this impressive sum, Trump’s expenditures have been minimal. What could be the reason behind this restraint?
Is he strategizing on how to best utilize these funds to support Republican candidates as the campaign intensifies in the coming weeks? On Friday, Trump mentioned that he would personally decide where to allocate support, focusing on candidates he believes have a chance of winning in competitive races.
However, this theory seems questionable. He has already missed opportunities to secure advertising slots at lower rates and to shape candidate narratives before voter opinions solidify.
Could he be using this financial reserve to suppress dissent within the party or withholding support until a candidate expresses admiration for him?
This also appears unlikely. Republican candidates who feel the need to critique his foreign or economic policies to maintain their viability are unlikely to be deterred by the prospect of his financial backing.
Perhaps he is conserving his funds to assert influence over the Republican primaries and the general election in 2028, intending to reward loyalty and punish disloyalty among candidates?
This possibility exists, but it’s worth noting that he is already operating in a weakened position.
Is he saving the funds to support a preferred successor, such as J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, or another yet-to-be-named candidate?
That scenario seems improbable as it is still quite distant.
None of these explanations fully account for Trump’s prominent and self-centered personality traits.
It appears that he intends to channel funds towards candidates who align with his views and whom he perceives as embodying his ideals, ultimately aiming to enhance his own image.
Recent polls indicate that Trump’s approval ratings are languishing in the low 30s, marking a historical low for a president facing midterm elections.
Consequently, he is likely to embark on a campaign designed to regain the admiration he has lost, attempting to portray himself as the hero he believes he is and reclaiming his self-assigned role of savior.
In essence, this will be an effort to elevate, glorify, and promote Donald J. Trump.
Trump’s non-profit political entity, Securing American Greatness, has already invested around $1 million in its initial midterm advertisements, which will air nationwide. These ads feature Trump discussing tax cuts related to his domestic spending initiatives and reductions in prices for eggs and prescription medications.
In early August, reports from the Atlantic revealed that Trump advised his team to adopt a strategy similar to that of the Democrats: making the election revolve around him.
However, as Karl Rove, a former senior adviser to George W. Bush, pointed out in the Wall Street Journal, given Trump’s unpopularity, centering the election around him could inadvertently aid the Democrats.
Trump also plans to undertake extensive travel across the nation, holding rallies reminiscent of his presidential campaigns. Fox News’ senior White House correspondent, Peter Doocy, has reported hints of numerous Trump rallies scheduled for October, potentially one per day in key states and districts.
Yet, Rove cautions that Trump has a tendency to be undisciplined, often speaking off-the-cuff, which could overshadow positive narratives for Republican candidates with his unpredictable remarks. This could compel Republican candidates to continually address questions regarding Trump’s recent controversial statements or misguided ideas.
This might explain why several Republican candidates in competitive districts have expressed to Trump’s staff that they would prefer he not campaign in their areas ahead of November, as noted by multiple Republican operatives in discussions reported by Politico. Additionally, Republican pollsters have advised candidates in tight races to minimize their association with Trump.
“We’ve advised them against his appearance here,” one senior Republican involved in a district where Trump won by a significant margin previously told Politico. “Honestly, he wouldn’t be beneficial in this context…I doubt they would send him without our approval. If they did, we likely wouldn’t campaign alongside him.”
Rove and other Republican leaders are urging Trump to adopt a more presidential demeanor, suggesting that he use his Super PAC’s $403 million to support Republican candidates rather than focusing on promoting himself.
However, their advice may fall on deaf ears, as Trump’s self-importance seems to overshadow party interests.
Ultimately, Trump appears to care little about the midterm elections, focusing instead on how Republican setbacks might reflect poorly on him. He likely believes that if he supports a candidate financially and they lose, it would reflect even worse on his own reputation.
Thus, it seems more advantageous for him to utilize the funds to bolster his own image.
As has been evident for some time, Trump’s primary concern lies with himself, a consistent theme throughout his career.
This situation poses challenges for Republicans as they approach the midterms while potentially benefiting Democrats.
Robert Reich, who served as the U.S. Secretary of Labor, is an emeritus professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley. He writes a column for the Guardian US and runs a newsletter at robertreich.substack.com. His latest book, “Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America,” is currently available in the U.S. and the U.K.
