Late in 2023, former President Donald Trump endorsed Bernie Moreno, a car dealership owner, for Ohio’s Senate seat, elevating the businessman over more seasoned Republican candidates. Just days after receiving Trump’s endorsement, Moreno’s campaign spent around $17,000 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, followed by another $79,000 the following month, positioning him as one of the top political spenders at Trump’s Florida club. Moreno is just one example of several Republican candidates spending significant amounts at Trump-owned businesses in apparent attempts to garner favor with the former president.
According to a CNN analysis of federal campaign finance data, Republican candidates and political groups are on track to spend more at Trump’s businesses in 2024 than in any other year since 2016. Fundraisers at Mar-a-Lago, stays at Trump hotels, and flights on Trump’s private jet have all contributed to this spending surge. Trump’s campaign alone has funneled more than $28 million to his businesses since his first presidential bid in 2016, translating his political support into financial gain.
Politics and Business: A Symbiotic Relationship
Trump’s businesses have benefited immensely from his political clout, with several Republican candidates spending large sums at his properties. In return, these candidates have often secured key endorsements from Trump. Notably, many of the biggest spenders at Trump properties have been political newcomers like Bernie Moreno, former Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker, and Arizona Senate hopeful Kari Lake, who received early endorsements from Trump despite their lack of political experience.
In the first half of 2024 alone, campaigns and political action committees (PACs) have spent nearly $3.2 million at Trump businesses. The largest chunk—about $1.9 million—was spent by Trump’s own campaign and associated fundraising committees on air travel from TAG Air, the Trump-owned company that operates his jet. Another $1 million has been spent at Mar-a-Lago, with an additional $200,000 spent at Trump’s other hotels and resorts.
While the spending at Trump’s properties has drawn attention, some experts question whether candidates are patronizing these businesses in exchange for endorsements. Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert, suggested that while there’s no direct evidence of a quid pro quo, the overlap between campaign spending at Trump properties and his political endorsements raises concerns.
Endorsements Pay Off
For candidates like Bernie Moreno, Trump’s endorsement has been a game-changer. Moreno, who owns car dealerships in Cleveland, ran for Senate in 2022 but dropped out after speaking with Trump. In 2023, he re-entered the race, spending tens of thousands of dollars at Mar-a-Lago for fundraisers and catering services. In December 2023, Moreno secured Trump’s endorsement, and his campaign spending at Trump properties soared. In January 2024, Moreno spent another $80,000 at Mar-a-Lago for a fundraiser that raised approximately $350,000. Thanks to Trump’s backing, Moreno won a highly competitive Republican primary.
Herschel Walker, another newcomer to politics, also benefited from early support from Trump. Walker’s campaign spent nearly $215,000 at Mar-a-Lago and other Trump properties, which helped propel him to a GOP primary win in Georgia’s Senate race. Though Walker ultimately lost the general election, his campaign manager noted that the fundraising events at Trump properties were highly successful, bringing in over a million dollars.
Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake has also been a major spender at Mar-a-Lago, dropping more than $100,000 there so far in 2024. Like Moreno and Walker, Lake secured Trump’s endorsement, winning her Senate primary with 55% of the vote.
The Line Between Politics and Profit
While Trump’s endorsement has proven crucial for candidates like Moreno, Walker, and Lake, his businesses have also benefited from the political spending. Trump’s own campaign and associated PACs have spent over $28 million on his businesses since 2016, making him the largest political spender at his properties. While it is legal for candidates to use campaign funds at their own businesses, experts have raised concerns that donors may not realize their contributions are indirectly supporting Trump’s personal wealth.
Despite these concerns, Trump’s financial disclosure statements indicate that his businesses continue to thrive. In 2024, Trump reported earning $56.9 million from Mar-a-Lago and $4.4 million from his air travel company, TAG Air.
A Shift in the GOP’s Spending Patterns
While some Republican groups have continued to spend heavily at Trump properties, others appear to be distancing themselves. The Republican National Committee (RNC), which spent over $2 million at Trump hotels and resorts between 2016 and 2022, has significantly reduced its spending in 2024. Similarly, the Senate Leadership Fund and the National Republican Congressional Committee, which spent tens of thousands of dollars at Trump properties in past election cycles, have not reported any major spending there since 2020.
Nevertheless, for many Republican candidates, spending at Trump properties remains a strategic investment. As long as Trump’s endorsement holds weight in GOP primaries, his businesses are likely to continue benefiting from political spending. However, as the lines between politics and profit blur, the long-term impact on the Republican Party and its candidates remains to be seen.
