Presidential Election

Trump's Self-Funding Isn't As Noble As He'd Like You To Think

The relationship between his checkbook and his campaign isn't as one-sided as he leads people to believe.

Trump's Self-Funding Isn't As Noble As He'd Like You To Think
Newsy Staff / Evan Thomas
SMS

Donald Trump talks a lot about how much money he's giving his campaign. That part's true, but it's a little more mutually beneficial than he makes it seem. 

In reality, it looks more like this: Money goes from Trump to the campaign, but a little bit also goes back to Trump. Let's take a look at August and September

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First: the travel. You probably guessed, but The Donald doesn't do commercial airlines. Since clinching the nomination, the campaign has paid more than $1 million to TAG Air, a company owned by Trump. 

And even the Trump campaign can't seem to get a free night at a Trump hotel. In facility rental or hotel stays, the campaign has paid nearly $400,000 to Trump's hotels. That includes campaign office rental at Trump Tower for almost $170,000.

And all that is just for two months. The Trump campaign has spent millions paying Trump businesses for different services. 

Trump isn't making a profit from his presidential campaign — yet. But the relationship between his checkbook and his campaign isn't as one-sided as he leads people to believe.