A massive fundraising surge by President Donald Trump’s political operation signals his clear intent to dominate the 2026 election landscape—and remain a formidable force well beyond 2028.
With $600 million on hand across his network of direct and affiliated political action committees, Trump now holds the largest early fundraising total of any sitting president. The funds are expected to be funneled into critical U.S. House and Senate races, where just a few seats could determine control of Congress.
A key element of Trump’s fundraising strategy is to demonstrate that he is anything but a traditional lame-duck president. He has hinted at offering financial backing to congressional incumbents and candidates who publicly support his agenda—particularly during the recent House passage of his “big, beautiful” tax cut bill.
Sources familiar with the president’s schedule say he has packed his calendar with an aggressive slate of fundraising events as he pushes toward a $1 billion goal ahead of Election Day. “By amassing money, Trump is amassing power,” said one source, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss his strategy.
Any surplus funds after 2026 could be rolled over into the 2028 cycle and beyond, positioning Trump as a potential kingmaker in shaping the future of the Republican Party and selecting his eventual successor. “It’s leverage,” said Marc Short, Trump’s former director of legislative affairs during his first term. “It’s a reflection of the power that he still holds.”
According to the Associated Press, Trump’s fundraising operation didn’t pause after Election Day. Instead, the president-elect began contacting staff with a bold directive: resume fundraising immediately, not only for the inauguration fund, but also to bolster the campaign war chests of loyal allies in the House and Senate.
The strategy hinges largely on Trump personally making fundraising calls, during which he often urges donors to “double up” their support by contributing not only to his administration but also to efforts to prevent a Democratic-controlled Congress from obstructing his final two years in office.
A string of high-dollar events underscores Trump’s determination to keep his political war chest full. Earlier this month, he hosted a $1.5 million-per-person dinner at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia for “crypto and AI innovators,” along with a pair of “candlelight dinners” at Mar-a-Lago on April 4 and March 1, according to reports.
Trump’s heavy reliance on super PACs—which can raise and spend unlimited amounts—has created opportunities for ultra-wealthy donors to contribute eye-popping sums. Among the key groups are MAGA Inc., his longtime super PAC, and Securing American Greatness, a 501(c)(4) organization that recently launched television ads promoting Trump’s message of “getting our economy back on track,” aimed at boosting his standing with the broader electorate.
Leading the fundraising and political strategy are Chris LaCivita, Trump’s 2024 co-campaign manager, and Tony Fabrizio, his longtime pollster. The pair also advise Trump’s leadership PAC, Never Surrender, as well as Building America’s Future, a group backed by Elon Musk.
Sources say Trump, along with LaCivita and Fabrizio, is fully prepared to target Republican incumbents like Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Warren Davidson (R-OH)—fiscal conservatives who voted against Trump’s tax cuts earlier this week. Trump remains keenly aware of how Democratic control of Congress in 2018 constrained his agenda and is determined to avoid a repeat.
“I’m going to be very active,” he said recently on “Meet the Press,” noting he’s “raised a lot of money for congressmen and senators that I think are really good people.”
