Former President Trump
Donald Trump: Romney Scraps End of Filibuster, Expansion of SCOTUS McConnell, GOP Condemns Biden’s Executive Command Over SCOTUS US Raises Concerns About Iran’s Seriousness in Nuclear Talks MORE will speak to major Republican Party donors this weekend amid an internal party discussion about his power over the party’s funding.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) is hosting a retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, though donors will make the short pilgrimage to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort Saturday night to hear from the former president himself, a tacit sign of the appeal . he still likes in republican circles.
The event is because internal grumbling about the president’s stranglehold on the party – and the stream of contributions – has sprung up since the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill. Trump and the party were at odds earlier this year when Trump said donors should only give PAC to his leadership and forfeit their contributions to party bodies because of their use of his name and likeness. GOP officials replied that the party was still in need of donations moving towards a mid-term cycle where control of the House and Senate is up for grabs.
The outlook for a fundraising rivalry became clearer after it was revealed that Trump’s Save America PAC closed the first quarter with a whopping $ 85 million in cash, establishing himself as a financial juggernaut in the marathon through November 2022.
“I think this cycle, you’re going to be very much running Trump’s PAC at the same level or even higher in terms of how well funded it is and the ability to take the megaphone and especially influence these primaries,” GOP donor Dan Eberhart told The Hill.
“I want to see Trump working to help Republicans, not settle bills. And I don’t want the NRSC [the National Republican Senatorial Committee] and NRCC [the National Republican Congressional Committee] to constantly fight own fire to move the ball down, ”added Eberhart.
Trump has already vowed to back a slew of candidates on the map by 2022, with most of his recommendations going to uncontroversial sitting lawmakers so far.
However, the former president has informed the GOP that he will consider backing candidates who may not be the party’s chosen contender, indicating that he could use his PAC as a means of clearing intraparty scores.
“Where necessary and appropriate, I will support primary rivals who embrace Making America Great Again and our America First policy. We want brilliant, strong, thoughtful and compassionate leadership, ”Trump said in a February statement.
Trump lived up to that threat when he defeated former assistant Max Miller, who is primarily Rep. Anthony GonzalezAnthony Gonzalez Trump Faces Power Test With Early Notes Boehner Throws Support Behind Republican Backing Trump Impeachment Meeting Between Trump, Ohio Senate Candidates Tense: MORE Report MORE (R-Ohio), one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his role in instigating the January 6 uprising. The former president has also vowed a primary against Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann Murkowski Top GOP super PAC endorses Murkowski amid primary threat Biden-GOP infrastructure talks rocky start Moderate GOP senators and Biden clash at start of infrastructure debate MORE (R-Alaska), one of seven GOP senators voting to condemn him in his impeachment trial.
Such warnings have worried Republicans that Trump could use his financial prowess to fill the coffers of far-right candidates who may face general election headwinds and would not normally have strong financial backing without the backing of the former president.
I think his first litmus test is: is he a Trump Republican, does he support the MAGA policy, is he loyal to Trump. And I think that’s going to be his first litmus test, ”said Eberhart. “And sometimes the winner may not be the most eligible person.”
On the other hand, if Trump and Republicans work together, donors say the party will be in a good position in the meantime.
The GOP only needs to flip 5 seats in the House and one seat in the Senate to win majorities in both chambers, and the party holding the White House traditionally loses seats in the first interim of a new government.
“If they are able to work together and provide Trump World with air support and energy, I think this really puts us in a very unique position to do very, very well in the midterm elections,” said Eberhart. “So, if historically we have the wind behind us and the Democrats are too reaching out and we have more energy and momentum and resources from Trump’s involvement, we could potentially have a massive night in November 2022.”
Some observers are already seeing the rift between Trump and the party mending.
After the fundraising campaign went public earlier this year, the Republican Party continued to send fundraising requests to advocate its support for a range of Trump policies. Those requests have received no pushback from the former president, indicating Trump may have moved on with the feud.
‘Trump has kind of loud statements that you will never hear from again. And if you look at what the party committees and so forth have put out, they are as pro-Trump as they can be without using his likeness and so on, ”Doug Heye, a former communications director for the RNC, told The Hill.
Regardless of how the fundraising erupts, Republicans say the fact that the retreat is being held in Palm Beach underscores Trump’s influence in the party and the Republicans’ eagerness to stay on his good side.
“There’s one reason they’re going to Florida,” Heye said, “and that’s because Donald Trump is there. Period of time.”