Did donors to Donald Trump really want to support his campaign or prop up his businesses? Forbes reports millions of donor dollars went to the latter. Forbes reporter Dan Alexander writes:
“…Trump’s reelection campaign, which never received a cent from the former president, moved an estimated $2.8 million of donor money into the Trump Organization—including at least $81,000 since Trump lost the election.”
Forbes also reports one of the campaign’s joint-fundraising committees with the Republican Party moved $4.3 million of donor money into Trump’s businesses over the course of his term, including at least $331,000 after the election. Forbes writes:
“The money covered the cost of rent, airfare, lodging and other expenses. All the payments are laid out in filings the campaign submitted to the Federal Election Commission. Representatives for the Trump Organization, the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee did not immediately respond to requests for comment.”
Forbes details examples from the FEC filing:
On December 1, nearly a month after the election, the campaign handed over $38,000in rent to Trump Tower Commercial LLC, the company through which Trump owns his stake in the famous Fifth Avenue tower. Fifteen days later, the campaign sent another $3,000 to Trump Restaurants LLC and added $38,000 more for Trump Tower Commercial LLC. In all, the postelection payments from the campaign and its joint-fundraising committee add up to $413,000.