President Trump said his political operation intends to spend at least $400 million in support of Republican candidates before Election Day, The New York Times reported on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The Washington Post and The Guardian carried the same figure in their coverage of his remarks.
The $400 million figure covers spending by Trump's political network on behalf of Republican midterm candidates, according to the reports. The New York Times framed the number as a planned minimum rather than a final total.
The reported commitment comes as major donors on the Democratic side are also putting large sums into the midterms. Michael Bloomberg is spending roughly $80 million to support Democratic candidates, according to Quartz. That places the two efforts at very different scales, based on the figures reported so far.
The reports describe the spending as going toward Republicans generally rather than detailing which races or states would receive the money. None of the outlets included in the coverage specified a breakdown of how the $400 million would be allocated.
What to watch next: whether Trump's operation confirms the total once the books close after Election Day, and how the final figure compares with Bloomberg's Democratic spending.
