Campaign Legal Center Alleges President Trump Is Breaking the Law by Directing Spending of $400 Million War Chest During 2026 Midterms

WASHINGTON — Last week, Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that President Donald Trump violated federal campaign finance laws based on his repeated, explicit claims indicating that he controls and directs MAGA Inc., a super PAC that has raised over $400 million and has begun spending on the 2026 midterm elections.

Federal law and decades of campaign finance precedent make clear that federal officeholders like President Trump are barred from controlling or operating groups that raise and spend “soft money,” as MAGA Inc. does. "Soft money” refers to funds raised outside the scope of federal campaign finance laws, including contribution limits and reporting requirements.

Enforcing campaign finance laws is essential to guard against corruption — like “pay-to-play” schemes — and preserve transparency in our elections.

“President Trump’s repeated assertions that he controls a super PAC show that he has committed a clear-cut violation of campaign finance law,” said Saurav Ghosh, director of federal campaign finance reform at Campaign Legal Center. “Our laws are clear: No federal officeholder or candidate is allowed to direct the money raised or spent by a super PAC. President Trump, MAGA Inc., and anyone else who breaks campaign finance laws must be held accountable to help ensure that our political system is free of corruption.”

Background:

The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) bars federal officeholders — like the president — and entities that they establish, finance, maintain or control — like MAGA Inc. — from soliciting, directing or spending soft money in connection with a federal election.

These prohibitions prevent big donors and wealthy special interests from circumventing federal contribution limits by funneling massive amounts of money to entities closely affiliated with officeholders that are not fully regulated by FECA. They also prevent officeholders from becoming beholden to such donors.

FECA’s soft money prohibitions have been a critical safeguard against corruption and serve to ensure electoral transparency by preventing federal officeholders and candidates from using soft money to influence federal elections.

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The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center advances democracy through law. We safeguard the freedom to vote, defend voters’ right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and work to ensure public trust in our elected officials.

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