President Donald Trump has privately told his advisers of a plan “aimed at salvaging his clout” after Republicans’ historic midterm defeat this week, one that would help him “influence elections in 2028 and beyond,” Axios reported Friday.
Democrats flipped at least seven GOP-held Senate seats and, according to network projections, are on track to hold more than 250 House seats, handing the party control of both chambers in January.
Trump’s plan, Axios exclusively reported, will involve continued fundraising for his political operation, either through his super PAC MAGA Inc. or through other venues. The operation would give Trump “a way to pressure GOP lawmakers who consider breaking with him as the president enters his lame-duck era,” much as it had leading up to the midterms with the defeat of Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
Trump-backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ousted Cornyn in a May runoff — then lost Tuesday to Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate seat in Texas since 1988.
MAGA Inc. spent in excess of $400 million on the midterms, Axios reported, citing an unnamed source “familiar with the totals.” The super PAC had $164 million remaining in its coffers as of Oct. 14, though it's unclear how much was spent in the weeks leading up to the midterms and how much remains.
Wealthy donors poured hundreds of millions into MAGA Inc. — many later benefited from administration decisions — but that money could dry up after Tuesday’s losses.
“Raising money could become much harder with Democrats controlling Congress and major donors beginning to look [to turn] their attention toward 2028,” Axios’ report reads.
“Republicans say Trump's diminished political clout will make it harder to attract the enormous checks that have flowed into MAGA Inc. The prospect of congressional investigations into alleged pay-for-play arrangements involving donors to Trump's political operation could further discourage contributions.”