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Kellyanne Conway says 2020 election should've been a 'blowout' for Trump but his campaign squandered a $1.6 billion war chest. Millions went into merchandise and Trump properties.

Story by lloydlee@insider.com (Lloyd Lee) • 9h ago

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/kellyanne-conway-says-2020-election-should-ve-been-a-blowout-for-trump-but-his-campaign-squandered-a-1-6-billion-war-chest-millions-went-into-merchandise-and-trump-properties/ar-AA16kyi6?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=41bdeaa03325468aa8cb0bf06806e678

A report from ABC News, which was cited in the op-ed, found Trump's re-election team raised roughly $1.6 billion in two years and spent about $1.4 billion in about 10 months.

A large portion of the money was spent on advertising — about $490 million, according to the report.

In other areas, the campaign spent millions of dollars on donor gifts and Trump properties. About $56 million was spent on campaign merchandise and donor gifts, ABC News reported.

Part of that included hundreds of thousands of dollars buying Donald Trump Jr.'s books, "Triggered" and "Liberal Privilege." The Daily Beast reported in 2020 that the Republican National Committee paid $300,000 for Trump Jr.'s books, which were given away to party donors.

Another more than $5 million was spent on Trump-branded hotels, including $900,000 at one of his properties for renting space and catering, according to ABC News.