Make America Great Again Inc., a super political action committee tied to former President Donald Trump, raised more than $46 million in the second half of 2023. It brought a number of billionaire political donors, some of whom previously backed President Trump, into the fold.
“The general election has already started,“ MAGA Inc. CEO Taylor Budowich said in a statement provided to The Epoch Times. ”President Trump has a clear path to win, but Democrats are spending more money, and they are doing it earlier than ever before.
“MAGA Inc. is proud to be the organization entrusted to lead the outside effort to support President Trump and his America First movement into November.”
Inside the Trump PACs
In the first six months of 2023, MAGA Inc. raised $14.6 million in total receipts, according to Federal Election Commission records. It spent nearly $40 million. It ended that period with $30.8 million on hand.MAGA Inc. confirmed it has raised more than $46 million in the final six months of 2023. Its cash on hand is now more than $23 million.
A super PAC can solicit or make unlimited contributions from and to individuals, corporations, labor unions, and other political committees, according to the regulatory agency. MAGA Inc. is an unauthorized super PAC, meaning it cannot cooperate directly with the candidate.
MAGA Inc., all other PACs, and principal campaign committees will be required to file disclosure forms for their 2023 fundraising activities on Jan. 31. PACs will report on their fundraising since the end of June 2023, while other committees will share their financials since the end of October 2023.
According to its federal disclosures, MAGA Inc. spent $20.2 million to oppose the candidacy of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the first half of 2023. Additionally, it spent $1.7 million to support President Trump and $1.3 million against President Joe Biden during the same timeframe. Mr. DeSantis dropped out of the race for the GOP’s 2024 presidential nomination on Jan. 21.
Additionally, in the first half of 2023, the Super PAC sent $12.25 million in the form of contribution refunds to Save America.
According to its FEC filings, Save America is a qualified leadership political action committee. That, according to the regulator, means it is “directly or indirectly established, financed, maintained or controlled by a candidate or an individual holding federal office, but is not an authorized committee of the candidate or officeholder and is not affiliated with an authorized committee of a candidate or officeholder.”
In the first six months of 2023, Save America spent about $30.2 million. Aside from transferring $4.85 million to MAGA Inc., the vast majority of the money went to law firms linked to President Trump’s numerous court challenges for “legal consulting.”
Timothy Mellon
Timothy Mellon, an heir of the Mellon family, gave $10 million to MAGA Inc. In April, he donated $5 million to the Kennedy-supporting PAC American Values 2024. That contribution made up more than half of the total raised by American Values in the first half of 2023.Mr. Mellon is a prominent donor who’s regularly made multimillion-dollar contributions to Republican-aligned groups like the Congressional Leadership Fund and the Senate Leadership Fund, according to donor records maintained by OpenSecrets.
Linda McMahon
Former pro wrestling executive Linda McMahon, the administrator of the Small Business Administration under President Trump, gave $5.25 million to MAGA Inc.The McMahon family founded the pro wrestling promotion and regularly featured as characters in its performances. She is currently chair of the board and chair of the Center for the American Worker at the America First Policy Institute.
Ms. McMahon, after her time with the Trump administration, was chairwoman of America First Action. Moreover, she regularly donated millions to that cause between 2019 and 2020, according to OpenSecrets donor records.
Diane Hendricks
Diane Hendricks, the widow of building supply entrepreneur and billionaire Ken Hendricks, gave $5 million to MAGA Inc. According to Forbes, Ms. Hendricks is worth an estimated $21.4 billion.Ms. Hendricks is the current chairwoman of Wisconsin building supply company ABC Supply Co Inc. The company was founded by herself and Mr. Hendricks.
As a political donor, Ms. Hendricks has regularly made multimillion-dollar contributions to Republican candidates and conservative causes, according to OpenSecrets donor records. The largest recipient was Wisconsin Truth PAC, a group supporting the 2022 reelection of Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). She gave about $19 million to that group during the mid-term cycle.
Ms. Hendricks previously gave $4 million to America First Action in 2020.
Timothy Dunn
Oil billionaire Timothy Dunn gave $5 million to MAGA Inc. Mr. Dunn is the co-founder and CEO of Texas-based CrownQuest Operating LLC. According to Forbes, he is worth an estimated $1.3 billion.Mr. Dunn is a regular donor for conservative causes. He’s given hundreds of thousands to the Club for Growth Action super PAC and other causes, according to OpenSecrets records. He has not previously donated to President Trump.
Representatives of Mr. Dunn didn’t respond to a request for comment by press time.
Million Dollar Donors
Three others —Geoffrey Palmer, Bernie Marcus, and George Bishop—donated $1 million to MAGA Inc.Mr. Palmer is the owner of California-based real estate development firm, G. H. Palmer Associates. He was a major donor to America First Action. Mr. Palmer gave more than $10 million to America First Action between 2017 and 2020, according to OpenSecrets records. Moreover, he’s a regular large donor to national and California Republican causes.
Representatives of Mr. Palmer and Mr. Bishop didn’t respond to a request for comment by press time.
