AP Special Report Trump's $600 million war chest: How he plans to wield his power in midterms and beyond JILL COLVIN and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press May 24, 2025 May 24, 2025 Updated Aug 11, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON — Between a barrage of executive orders, foreign trips and norm-shattering proclamations, Donald Trump has also been busy raking in cash.kAm%96 AC6D:56?E 92D 2>2DD65 2 H2C 496DE @7 2E =62DE Se__ >:==:@? :? A@=:E:42= 5@?2E:@?D 9625:?8 :?E@ E96 >:5E6C> 6=64E:@?D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E9C66 A6@A=6 72>:=:2C H:E9 E96 >2EE6C] xE’D 2? F?AC64656?E65 DF> :? >@56C? A@=:E:4D[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 7@C 2 =2>6\5F4< AC6D:56?E H9@ :D 32CC65 3J E96 &]$] r@?DE:EFE:@? 7C@> CF??:?8 282:?]k^AmkAm%CF>A :D <66A:?8 2? 288C6DD:G6 7F?5C2:D:?8 D4965F=6 H:E9 E96 F=E:>2E6 8@2= @7 C2:D:?8 S` 3:==:@? @C >@C6 E@ 324< 9:D 286?52 2?5 9@=5 E96 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 ?6IE }@G6>36C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 A6@A=6[ H9@ DA@<6 @? 4@?5:E:@? @7 2?@?J>:EJ E@ D92C6 :?E6C?2= 56E2:=D @7 E96 7F?5C2:D:?8 677@CED]k^Am People are also reading… Rocky Mount man charged with killing his brother Franklin County considers 7-cent real estate tax increase Kids invited to annual Cops and Bobbers event by Rocky Mount PD Smith Mountain Lake saw increase in boating incidents and deaths in 2025 Chip Sullivan, golfer and instructor 'loved by so many,' dies at 61 Budget woes complicate residents' push for new dog park in Franklin County 2 Franklin County softball players among those to watch in Southwest Virginia Martinsville to scrap purchasing cards after scrutiny of $1.4M in spending Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Roanoke County family files lawsuit against VHSL, school board over homeschool sports rule Cyanobacteria up in Smith Mountain Lake, but no harmful algal blooms last year This Rocky Mount police dog focuses on head pats instead of patrols Volunteers needed for Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour Spanberger signs 22 bills, including one concerning pharmacy benefit managers House narrowly rejects Iran war powers resolution in test of Trump's strategy kAm%96 AC6@44FA2E:@? H:E9 7F?5C2:D:?8 >:89E D66> 9:89=J F?FDF2= 7@C 2 AC6D:56?E H9@ H2D ?@E23=J 2G6CD6 E@ 5:2=:?8 7@C 5@==2CD H96? 96 7:CDE C2?] qFE 244@C5:?8 E@ A6@A=6 72>:=:2C H:E9 9:D E9:?<:?8[ :E >2<6D A6C764E D6?D6i qJ 2>2DD:?8 >@?6J[ %CF>A 2>2DD6D A@H6C]k^AmkAm%CF>A :D 6286C E@ C6G6CD6 E96 E:56 @7 s6>@4C2ED C@FE:?6=J @FEC2:D:?8 v~! 42?5:52E6D 2?5 H2?ED E@ >2I:>:K6 9:D @H? :>A24E 2D AC6D:56?E] p?J >@?6J =67E @G6C 27E6C 9:D E6C> 4@F=5 96=A 9:> >2:?E2:? 6?@C>@FD :?7=F6?46 @G6C E96 #6AF3=:42? !2CEJ[ 46>6?E:?8 9:D DE2EFD 2D :ED >@DE :?7=F6?E:2= <:?8>2<6C — 2?5 A@E6?E:2= A2EC@? — E9C@F89 a_ag 2?5 36J@?5]k^Am kAm“xE’D =6G6C286[” D2:5 |2C4 $9@CE[ H9@ D6CG65 2D %CF>A’D 5:C64E@C @7 =68:D=2E:G6 2772:CD 5FC:?8 9:D 7:CDE E6C> 2?5 =2E6C 2D ':46 !C6D:56?E |:<6 !6?46’D 49:67 @7 DE277] “xE’D 2 C67=64E:@? @7 E96 A@H6C E92E 96 DE:== 9@=5D]”k^AmkAmw6 92D C2:D65 >@?6J 2E 2 C2A:5 A246 H9:=6 AC6D:56?E[ 9625=:?:?8 2 D6C:6D @7 9:89\5@==2C 7F?5C2:D6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 2 S`]d >:==:@?\2\9625 6G6?E @? |2J d 2E E96 %CF>A }2E:@?2= v@=7 r=F3 :? ':C8:?:2 7@C “4CJAE@ 2?5 px :??@G2E@CD[” 2?5 2 A2:C @7 “42?5=6=:89E 5:??6CD” 2E 9:D |2C\2\{28@ :? u=@C:52 @? pAC:= c 2?5 |2C49 `]k^Am kAms6>@4C2ED 2?5 42>A2:8? 7:?2?46 H2E495@8D 92G6 =@?8 4@>A=2:?65 23@FE %CF>A’D 3=6?5:?8 @7 @77:4:2= 2?5 42>A2:8? 3FD:?6DD] |2?J @7 E96 2EE6?566D 92G6 A@E6?E:2= 3FD:?6DD 367@C6 E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E] qFE 2 4@?D6CG2E:G6 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 2?5 #6AF3=:42?D H9@ 4@?EC@= r@?8C6DD 92G6 7@C J62CD H62<6?65 42>A2:8? 7:?2?46 CF=6D]k^Am kAm%96 >@?6J :D DAC625 24C@DD 2 ?F>36C @7 4@>>:EE66D[ :?4=F5:?8 |pvp x?4][ %CF>A’D =@?8E:>6 DFA6C !pr[ 2?5 $64FC:?8 p>6C:42? vC62E?6DD[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E d_`W4XWcX E92E 62C=:6C E9:D >@?E9 3682? 2:C:?8 2 4@>>6C4:2= 324<:?8 %CF>A’D 64@?@>:4 286?52]k^Am kAm%96 @A6C2E:@? :D 36:?8 @G6CD66? 3J r9C:D {2r:G:E2[ %CF>A’D a_ac 4@\42>A2:8? >2?286C[ 2?5 %@?J u23C:K:@[ E96 AC6D:56?E’D =@?8E:>6 A@==DE6C] %96C6 2C6 2=D@ @E96C 6?E:E:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 }6G6C $FCC6?56C[ %CF>A’D C6?2>65 =6256CD9:A !pr[ 2?5 @FED:56 8C@FAD =:<6 E96 t=@? |FD<\324<65 qF:=5:?8 p>6C:42’D uFEFC6[ H9:49 {2r:G:E2 2?5 u23C:K:@ 92G6 2=D@ ;@:?65 2D D6?:@C 25G:D6CD]k^Am kAm~?6 @7 E96 8@2=D @7 E96 8C@FAD :D E@ 324< %CF>A’D 286?52 2?5 96=A AFD9 9:D =68:D=2E:G6 AC:@C:E:6D E9C@F89 r@?8C6DD]k^Am kAm|@DE @7 E96 >@?6J[ 9@H6G6C[ :D 36:?8 96=5 :? C6D6CG6 2D E96J AC6A2C6 E@ DA6?5 3:8 :? E96 a_ae AC:>2C:6D 2?5 >:5E6C>D[ H:E9 2 A2CE:4F=2C 7@4FD @? 9@=5:?8 2?5 6IA2?5:?8 #6AF3=:42?D’ >2;@C:EJ :? E96 w@FD6] k^Am kAm%CF>A 92D >256 4=62C E92E 96 :?E6?5D E@ A=2J 2? @FED:K65 C@=6 :? ?6IE J62C’D >:5E6C> 6=64E:@?D 2?5 92D 2=C625J 368F? :DDF:?8 2 7=FCCJ @7 6?5@CD6>6?ED :? C246D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ]k^AmkAmx? a_`g[ #6AF3=:42?D =@DE 4@?EC@= @7 E96 w@FD6 :? 9:D 7:CDE E6C> E@ s6>@4C2ED H9@ H6?E @? E@ 3=@4< >F49 @7 %CF>A’D 286?52 2?5 E96? :>A624965 9:> EH:46[ 7:CDE :? a_`h @G6C 9:D 677@CED E@ AC6DDFC6 &<C2:?6 E@ :?G6DE:82E6 7@C>6C !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56?[ 2?5 E96? 7@C 9:D C@=6 :? E96 r2A:E@= :?DFCC64E:@? 27E6C 96 =@DE E96 a_a_ 6=64E:@?]k^Am kAm%CF>A[ 244@C5:?8 E@ A6@A=6 72>:=:2C H:E9 9:D E9:?<:?8[ :D A2CE:4F=2C=J 7@4FD65 @? 2G@:5:?8 2?@E96C :>A6249>6?E 2?5 >2:?E2:?:?8 9:D A@H6C]k^Am kAm“x’> 8@:?8 E@ 36 G6CJ 24E:G6[” %CF>A D2:5 @7 9:D A=2?D 7@C E96 >:5E6C>D :? 2 C646?E :?E6CG:6H @? “|66E E96 !C6DD]” k^AmkAm%CF>A 2?5 9:D 2:56D 2C6 2H2C6 E92E E96 A2CEJ :? A@H6C EJA:42==J =@D6D D62ED :? E96 >:5E6C>D] qFE E96J 9@A6 E92E 3J C2>A:?8 FA DA6?5:?8 367@C6 s6>@4C2ED[ E96J 42? 3C62< E92E EC6?5]k^Am kAm“(6’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ =6E E92E 36 2 D6=7\7F=7:==:?8 AC@A964J[” %CF>A D2:5 2E E96 2??F2= }2E:@?2= #6AF3=:42? r@?8C6DD:@?2= r@>>:EE66 !C6D:56?E’D s:??6C =2DE >@?E9]k^Am kAmw6 :D 2=D@ FD:?8 @77:4:2= =6G6CD @7 A@H6C 282:?DE s6>@4C2ED 29625 @7 E96 >:5E6C>D[ :?4=F5:?8 H:E9 2? 6I64FE:G6 @C56C 56>2?5:?8 :>>65:2E6 492?86D E@ 9@H 6=64E:@?D 2C6 CF?] w6 @C56C65 E96 yFDE:46 s6A2CE>6?E E@ :?G6DE:82E6 p4Eq=F6[ E96 7F?5C2:D:?8 A=2E7@C> E92E 92D DFA6C492C865 s6>@4C2E:4 42>A2:8?D]k^AmkAmxE C6>2:?D E@ 36 D66? 9@H >F49 %CF>A H:== F=E:>2E6=J DA6?5 @? @E96C 42?5:52E6D] %96 AC6D:56?E 92D 2 =@?8 9:DE@CJ @7 36:?8 DE:?8J H:E9 9:D >@?6J[ 49@@D:?8 :?DE625 E@ H:6=5 9:D :?7=F6?46 3J 36DE@H:?8 6?5@CD6>6?ED 2?5 DE28:?8 C2==:6D E92E 6?6C8:K6 E96 #6AF3=:42? 32D6]k^Am kAmx? a_aa[ 2D %CF>A AC6A2C65 E@ CF? 7@C AC6D:56?E 282:?[ #6AF3=:42?D C6A62E65=J 8C:A65 E92E 96 H2D 9@2C5:?8 >@?6J 7@C 9:>D6=7 2?5 ?@E DA6?5:?8 >@C6 @? 9:D 6?5@CD65 42?5:52E6D]k^Am kAmx? E96 6?5[ |pvp x?4] DA6?E S`h >:==:@? 5FC:?8 E96 a_aa >:5E6C>D[ >@DE=J @AA@D:?8 s6>@4C2ED[ :?4=F5:?8 Sb]c >:==:@? E2C86E:?8 ?@H !6??DJ=G2?:2’D y@9? u6EE6C>2?[ Sb >:==:@? @AA@D:?8 pC:K@?2’D |2C< z6==J[ 2?5 Sb]c >:==:@? 282:?DE v6@C8:2’D #2A926= (2C?@4<] p== E9C66 H@? E96:C $6?2E6 C246D 282:?DE %CF>A\72G@C65 42?5:52E6D]k^AmkAm%92E DF> H2D 72C 64=:AD65 3J E96 Sae_ >:==:@? DA6?E 3J E96 r@?8C6DD:@?2= {6256CD9:A uF?5 2?5 E96 Sah_ >:==:@? DA6?E 3J E96 $6?2E6 {6256CD9:A uF?5[ E96 42>A2:8? 2C>D @7 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 #6AF3=:42?D]k^Am kAm%9:D E:>6 2C@F?5[ 9@H6G6C[ @?6 @7 E96 A6@A=6 72>:=:2C H:E9 9:D @A6C2E:@? D2:5 E92E E96J H@F=5 ?@E 36 DFCAC:D65 :7 %CF>A’D 8C@FAD 6?5 FA @FEDA6?5:?8 E96>] %9@D6 H9@ E9:?< %CF>A H:== 36 >@C6 86?6C@FD D2J 96 92D =:EE=6 6=D6 E@ 5@ H:E9 E96 42D9[ 6G6? 2D 96 >FD6D AF3=:4=J 23@FE ECJ:?8 E@ CF? 7@C 2 E9:C5 E6C> :? 567:2?46 @7 E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?’D aa?5 p>6?5>6?E]k^Am kAm~E96CD 2C6 >@C6 D<6AE:42=]k^AmkAmpE E96 }2E:@?2= #6AF3=:42? $6?2E6 r@>>:EE66[ 7@C :?DE2?46[ DE277 92G6 6>A92D:K65 E@ :?4F>36?ED E92E E96J 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 3F:=5 E96:C @H? AC@76DD:@?2= @A6C2E:@?D[ H:E9 DF77:4:6?E DE277 2?5 :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ D@ E96J H@?’E ?665 E@ C6=J @? E96 AC6D:56?E @C @E96C @FED:56 8C@FAD 7@C 96=A]k^Am kAm“x H@F=5 36 D9@4<65 :7 E92E 492?86D[” D2:5 $9@CE[ E96 7@C>6C %CF>A 2?5 !6?46 2:56] “x 5@?’E E9:?< 2?J3@5J’D D:EE:?8 E96C6 E9:?<:?8i |2J36 96’== 8:G6 >6 D@>6 @7 E92E]”k^Am 0 comments Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Trump to pardon reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley of fraud, tax evasion convictions The move continues a pattern of Trump pardoning some high-profile friends, supporters, donors and former staffers. Watch Now: Related Video A1 Minute! April 2, 2026: Hack for RVA civic hackathon; DuPont sells Kevlar and Nomex divisions; Virginia Tourism Corporation partners with Devils Backbone Brewing The 10 safest cities in the United States The 10 safest cities in the United States A1 Minute! March 25, 2026: Ram’s sports investment; Dr. Winn moves onto Philadelphia; Cannabis laws may change A1 Minute! March 25, 2026: Ram’s sports investment; Dr. Winn moves onto Philadelphia; Cannabis laws may change A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute
Trump to pardon reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley of fraud, tax evasion convictions The move continues a pattern of Trump pardoning some high-profile friends, supporters, donors and former staffers.
A1 Minute! April 2, 2026: Hack for RVA civic hackathon; DuPont sells Kevlar and Nomex divisions; Virginia Tourism Corporation partners with Devils Backbone Brewing
A1 Minute! March 25, 2026: Ram’s sports investment; Dr. Winn moves onto Philadelphia; Cannabis laws may change
A1 Minute! March 25, 2026: Ram’s sports investment; Dr. Winn moves onto Philadelphia; Cannabis laws may change
A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute
A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute
