Since January 2025, Republican campaigns and political action committees have spent nearly $3 million at President Donald Trump’s businesses, reflecting a notable shift in spending patterns compared with his first term. With Trump’s Washington hotel no longer operating under the Trump Organization, much of the GOP's political expenditure has moved to his Florida properties, particularly Mar-a-Lago.
An analysis of federal campaign finance records reveals that while total spending at Trump-owned venues has slightly decreased compared to the inflation-adjusted figures from the comparable period of Trump’s first term, spending at Mar-a-Lago has more than tripled. From the beginning of 2025 through September, Republican Senate and House campaigns and affiliated groups spent around $2.9 million on fundraisers, event spaces, accommodations, meals, and merchandise at Trump resorts, primarily concentrated in Florida. This shift comes despite the absence of Trump’s Washington hotel, which once served as a central hub for GOP fundraising activities.
Experts note that it is significant Republican donors and political committees have maintained levels of spending close to those seen previously, even though the key venue near Capitol Hill is no longer available. Lawmakers and lobbyists have been willing to travel considerable distances from Washington and their home districts to attend events and make purchases at Trump’s Florida properties.
Among the largest spenders are the Republican National Committee (RNC), which charged nearly $1.8 million at Trump-owned locations, followed by Trump’s flagship super PAC, MAGA Inc., and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). Additional notable spenders include the joint fundraising committee supporting Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas and GOP candidate Joe Mitchell from Iowa, both known for their close ties to Trump. Jackson’s affiliated PAC spent over $120,000 at Trump businesses, including a $48,000 bill at Mar-a-Lago coinciding with a celebration of his birthday, while Mitchell’s campaign has spent approximately $90,000, largely at the Florida resort.
RNC and NRCC representatives defended their choices by citing the popularity of these venues among donors and supporters, emphasizing their effectiveness in raising record funds. “Our stakeholders love these venues,” said an RNC spokeswoman, while the NRCC highlighted the profitability of their events at Mar-a-Lago.
The pace of spending at Trump properties has slowed in recent months amid declining approval ratings for the president and projections that Democrats may regain control of the House. Between June and September 2026, Republican groups spent $336,000 at Trump businesses, down from nearly $1 million during the same timeframe in Trump’s first term, adjusted for inflation.
It is important to note that this analysis excludes spending directly by Trump’s own campaign and affiliated political committees, and does not capture unreported expenses by dark-money groups.
Meanwhile, Trump’s reported income in 2025, exceeding $2.2 billion, has increasingly derived from ventures in cryptocurrency and digital tokens, surpassing revenue from his properties. Observers point out that while GOP spending at Trump-owned hotels and clubs remains substantial, it represents only a fraction of the president’s growing earnings from other business interests.