The Republican National Committee dropped a lot of coin on Donald Trump’s businesses last month. In February, a whopping 86 percent of all RNC venue and catering expenditures went to two of Donald Trump’s clubs. From the Washington Post:
The Republican National Committee spent roughly $271,000 at President Trump’s private businesses in February, according to documents filed Tuesday evening.
The majority of the RNC’s spending at Trump’s private properties last month paid for venue rental and catering at the Trump National Doral Miami resort in Florida and the Trump International Hotel in Washington. Of about $270,000 spent at both properties, most of the expenses — about $205,000 — were spent at Trump National Doral Miami, Federal Election Commission filings show.
The amounts spent at those two Trump properties comprised 86 percent of the RNC’s February expenses that were categorized specifically as “venue rental and catering.” In December 2017, the RNC spent $3,000 on venue and catering at the Doral property — the only other time it spent money there in the 2017-2018 fundraising cycle.
What was the purpose of these events at Trump properties? They won’t say.
The purpose of the RNC's February venue rental expenses at Trump properties was not immediately clear. The RNC did not provide a comment in response to an inquiry Tuesday evening.
RNC officials aren’t the only ones spending big at Trump-owned properties. Many elected Republicans and Trump’s own campaign are also spending big.
Now, Republicans have become some of his most reliable customers.
Since Trump won the 2016 election, his businesses have taken in $1.8 million from Republican candidates’ committees, super PACs and the main party committee, according to tax and campaign-finance filings.
Trump’s best customer has been Trump himself. His campaign spent $543,000 at Trump-owned properties in 2017, paying for rent at Trump Tower, for lodging at Trump’s D.C. hotel and for water from Trump Ice.
Rep. Bill Schuster, the chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has been the biggest spender, forking over $28,879 for events at Trump’s D.C. hotel.
[Updated to reflect venue and catering expenditures alone]
