President Donald Trump has scheduled two additional $1 million-a-seat dinners for his super PAC next year, despite being term-limited and unable to run for office again, according to a report by The New York Times. The events, described as “candlelight dinners,” will take place on 31 January at his golf club near Washington, D.C., and on 27 February at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
The funds raised will go to MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump’s political movement. Typically, such committees raise money for a candidate’s own election, but Trump is barred from seeking a third term under the 22nd Amendment. Federal Election Commission data shows MAGA Inc. has raised nearly $177 million this year but spent only about $4.6 million, including roughly $60,000 on events at Trump properties. The organisation has $196.1 million in cash on hand.
Beyond super PAC fundraising, Trump has also drawn in donors and court settlement money for side projects, including a presidential library and a grand White House ballroom. The foundation behind the library plans to raise nearly $1 billion over two years for a building in downtown Miami, according to tax documents obtained by the Miami Herald. Funds from Trump’s $16 million settlement with Paramount and $15 million settlement with ABC will contribute to the library.
Trump also aims to build a $300 million golden ballroom, for which he demolished the East Wing. He hosted a lavish fundraiser at the White House to support the project, inviting donors from companies including Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet’s Google, Amazon and Palantir Technologies, according to a guest list seen by The Wall Street Journal.
In comparison, a political organisation that supported former President Barack Obama raised far less after his second term. Priorities USA had $3.4 million in June 2013, less than 2 percent of MAGA Inc.’s current cash on hand, according to a previous New York Times article.
