Former President Donald Trump’s White House bid is getting more financial backup — this time, from a dark money group.
Securing American Greatness, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, this week began running a TV ad in Pennsylvania accusing President Joe Biden of downplaying inflation.
“Is it dishonesty or dementia?” the commercial says, a jab at the president’s mental acuity — a centerpiece of Republican attacks against him. “Either way, to fix inflation, Biden has to 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 being run by Trump ally Taylor Budowich, is one of several pro-Trump outside groups working to boost a campaign that is running at a financial disadvantage to Biden’s. As a so-called dark money group, the nonprofit can support and oppose candidates — as long as electioneering isn’t its primary activity — and can raise unlimited funds without disclosing its donors.
Budowich also oversees the principal pro-Trump super PAC, MAGA Inc. Another super PAC, Right for America, is being funded by Trump friend and former Marvel Entertainment executive Ike Perlmutter, and is receiving additional fundraising help from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. And on Thursday, a third pro-Trump super PAC emerged: Preserve America, which is being bankrolled by casino billionaire Miriam Adelson.
Securing American Greatness faces more restrictions than the super PACs on how it can spend its money. But the outfit could be appealing to some donors. While Trump has drawn support from billionaire donors, he has long faced resistance from some in the well-heeled Republican contributor class, who may prefer to donate without their names being disclosed.
It is not unusual for candidates to benefit from dark money groups. The primary pro-Biden super PAC, Future Forward, has a nonprofit arm called Future Forward USA Action.
Trump’s campaign is hoping that the spending from outside groups will help him close a nagging cash shortfall he is facing against Biden. At the end of April, Biden’s campaign had $84 million cash on hand, compared with Trump’s $49 million. But that gap could close. Trump’s political operation on Friday said it had raised nearly $53 million in the aftermath of the ex-president’s conviction in the New York hush money case, a massive sum.
