President Donald Trump has given his vice president a portion of his impressive fundraising haul, but it represents only pennies on the dollar.
NBC News reported Monday that Trump’s fundraising emails and donation buttons on his official site ask donors to contribute 5% of their total gift to Vice President JD Vance’s PAC, “Working for Ohio.”
This system allowed Vance to raise $245,000 in May and June, as his primary focus turned to his job as finance chair for the Republican National Committee.
More important than the money itself, according to the report, is that these donations give Vance access to Trump’s contributor list.
“The arrangement came together quietly in the spring after Trump installed Vance in his RNC finance role,” NBC News noted, citing two people familiar with the details. “The idea behind it was to ensure Vance’s committee had enough cash to pay for staff and other overhead expenses while his fundraising efforts are primarily focused on the national party.”
However, these sources also emphasized that Trump’s approval should not be seen as an endorsement of Vance or a blessing as Trump’s heir. Instead, it is meant to keep Vance’s fundraising operation afloat during his vice presidency.
In August, when asked about the 2028 race, Trump remarked that Vance was “doing a great job,” but also suggested that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could be a contender, The New York Times reported.
Before Trump’s intervention, Vance’s PAC had spent more than it had. FEC reports from the end of 2024 show cash on hand had dropped to about $16,000, while the PAC owed over $100,000. After Trump’s help, it now boasts slightly more than $245,000.