President Donald Trump is preparing his political machine to support Republican congressional candidates in a big way in 2026, something of a departure from the president’s behavior in the last two midterm election cycles.

Trump has proven to be one of the GOP’s all-time greatest fundraisers, especially at the grassroots level, and has continued to amass donations to shore up power and his legacy.

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And though he’s legally barred from running for another term in the White House, Trump supporters have kept the donations flowing since November, swelling the president’s war chest to more than $600 million. The Associated Press reported last week that Team Trump believes it could breach the billion-dollar mark before midterm races next November.

Still, Trump’s fundraising prowess hasn’t always benefited down-ballot Republicans. The GOP lost control of the House in 2018, allowing former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Democrats to stall his legislative agenda and impeach him twice. Furthermore, Trump’s super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., only spent $19 million on congressional races in 2022, compared to $260 million and $290 million from the GOP House and Senate campaign wings, respectively, as Trump favored endorsements and rallies for candidates over cash.

Multiple veteran Republican campaign operatives with ties to the White House, however, tell the Washington Examiner that Trump is prepared to empty the coffers to maintain both congressional majorities this time around.

Three GOP strategists with past Trump campaign experience specifically suggested that Trump is especially interested in blocking a majority flip in the House to preempt a growing list of investigations Democrats have pledged to launch into Trump and his allies.

“The president has a real simple choice here. Spend the money and hold the House or face two years of bulls*** from the two brain cells crowd,” one Trump team veteran declared.

A second Republican strategist said Trump is taking the midterm elections seriously as he builds out his legacy. “Trump has an opportunity here to make the second half of his term have some real weight; he’s got a chance to set himself up as a real kingmaker going forward,” the Republican said.

The president said himself during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press that he plans to “be very active” in midterm election spending.

On top of his growing mountain of campaign cash, the president is also making discreet moves to boost Republicans heading into 2026. Securing American Greatness, a pro-Trump nonprofit organization helmed by the president’s 2024 campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, launched a $10 million national ad campaign earlier this month touting the president’s tax package and the Republicans working to pass it.

Trump has also released a stream of recent midterm endorsements of sitting, swing-district Republican lawmakers in hopes of avoiding contentious primaries, according to Republican campaign aides. 

The president installed Vice President JD Vance as the Republican National Committee’s National Finance Chair, all but ensuring close coordination between the White House and RNC throughout the midterm elections.

RNC officials welcome Trump’s support and cash, ahead of what’s shaping up to be a knock-down, drag-out cycle.

“The RNC is working hand-in-hand with President Trump and his administration to grow Republican majorities and win big in 2026. With Vice President Vance serving as RNC Finance Chair, we’re building the war chest and securing our elections to achieve decisive victories in the midterms,” RNC national press secretary Kiersten Pels said in a statement. “Our goal is simple: give President Trump the full four years he needs to deliver his agenda and Make America Great Again.”

One longtime Republican strategist cautioned that Trump might start getting “careless” with the war chest, citing multiple threats by the president to primary incumbent Republicans resisting his plans for governance, most recently directed at Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).

“In the grand scheme of things, a couple million spent on a race against a difficult Republican might not seem like a ton of money, but I just want him to be smart about this,” that person explained. “What’s easier? Having to woo over Thomas Massie or dealing with a swing-district Democrat who won because their opponent didn’t get the help they needed?”

Should Democrats manage to best Trump’s efforts to maintain control of at least the House in 2026, the president would likely be hit with an avalanche of investigations from the opposition party. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, and other top Democrats have already called for investigations into Qatar’s gift of a $400 million Boeing 747 to the Trump administration and other perceived conflicts of interest.

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Meanwhile, Democrats are also eyeing investigations of the Department of Government Efficiency, even with boss Elon Musk headed back to the private sector, and question how Trump’s tariffs potentially manipulated markets.

Two Democratic lawmakers have already filed articles of impeachment against the president.