The President of the United States, Donald Trump, made his first major economic contribution this Saturday ahead of the 'midterms', aimed at supporting the Republican candidate for the Senate from Texas, Ken Paxton. The contribution amounts to ten million dollars (about 8.6 million euros) and comes amid a tight electoral battle with Democrat Talarico.
According to a document filed with the Federal Election Commission, the disbursement is split equally: half will be dedicated to negative ads against Talarico and the other half to campaigns in favor of Paxton. The funding is channeled through Del Ray Media Inc., a company specialized in audiovisual political advertising.
Trump also has a fund called 'Mr. Trump's MAGA Inc', endowed with about 400 million dollars (around 344 million euros). On Friday, the president stated that he is willing to invest whatever amount is necessary to boost Republican candidates, emphasizing that these resources are his property and that he can use them outside of the money managed by the Republican National Committee.
"I have raised a lot of money, and no one knows how much it is, but I will tell you that it is about 850 million dollars," the president declared before boarding Air Force One headed to South Carolina on August 21. "I will spend a lot of that money, and also my own money, but I will spend a lot of that money on candidates that I think are good, Republican candidates."
According to MAGA Inc. spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer, the campaign against Talarico will focus on warning of a possible widespread tax increase if the Democrat wins the seat.
"Talarico, the one with high taxes, wants to take money out of the pockets of Texans. MAGA Inc. will ensure that Texas knows Talarico's radical policies and chooses Ken Paxton for the United States Senate," a statement released by the spokesperson notes.
Trump's previous major contribution was directed to South Carolina, to the campaign of Republican Senator Darline Graham, amounting to 827,000 dollars (more than 700,000 euros).
"Imagine, please, that I am on the ballot," Trump requested on August 21 during a rally in support of Graham in South Carolina. "Come out to vote. It is very important."
The midterm elections take on a particular weight in Texas, where Talarico and Paxton appear practically tied in most polls, despite the fact that the state has not had a Democratic senator for 33 years. In recent weeks, Talarico has become a recurring target of Trump's criticisms, who has given him the nickname 'Tala-Freako' (Tala-crazy in English). The Democratic candidate has responded to the president's mockery by selling t-shirts with the nickname printed on them.