Former President Donald Trump’s bid for the White House is getting more financial support — this time from a dark money group.
Securing American Greatness, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, began running a TV ad in Pennsylvania this week accusing President Joe Biden of downplaying inflation.
“Is it dishonesty or dementia?” says the commercial, a jab at the president’s mental acuity — a focus of Republican attacks against him. “Either way, to tackle inflation, Biden must admit it’s bad.”
The group is spending $2 million to air the ad over a seven-day period, according to a person familiar with the plans who was granted anonymity to speak freely.
Securing American Greatness, which is led by Trump ally Taylor Budowich, is one of several pro-Trump outside groups working to boost a campaign that is financially disadvantaged to Biden’s. As a so-called dark money group, the nonprofit can support and oppose candidates — as long as electioneering is not its primary business — and raise unlimited funds without disclosing donors.
Budowich also oversees the main pro-Trump super PAC, MAGA Inc. Another super PAC, Right for America, is funded by Trump friend and former Marvel Entertainment executive Ike Perlmutter, and receives additional fundraising help from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. And on Thursday, a third pro-Trump super PAC emerged: Preserve America, funded by casino billionaire Miriam Adelson.
Securing American Greatness has more restrictions than super PACs when it comes to how it can spend its money. But the outfit could be attractive to some donors. While Trump has drawn support from billionaire donors, he has long faced resistance from some in the wealthy Republican class of donors, who may prefer to donate without their names being released.
It is not uncommon for candidates to take advantage of dark money groups. The main pro-Biden super PAC, Future Forward, has a nonprofit called Future Forward USA Action.
Trump’s campaign hopes the spending from outside groups will help him plug a nagging cash deficit he faces against Biden. At the end of April, Biden’s campaign had $84 million in cash on hand, compared to Trump’s $49 million. But that gap could be closed. Trump’s political operation said Friday it had raised nearly $53 million in the wake of the ex-president’s conviction in the New York hush money case, a huge sum.
