President Donald Trump sent supporters an unusually worded fundraising email Friday warning that Republicans could lose control of Congress, even as Trump-aligned political groups pour more than $130 million into the final stretch of the 2026 midterm campaign.
The email arrived with the subject line, "I don't want you to stand with me and the MAGA Movement today," a statement seemingly designed to provoke recipients into opening the message. Inside, however, Trump delivered the opposite appeal, asking supporters to contribute immediately to help Republicans retain their House and Senate majorities.
"Reluctantly, I must inform you that we have nine weeks," the message began. "Nine weeks to keep the House. Nine weeks to keep the Senate. Nine weeks to stop them from reversing the greatest comeback in the history of our country."
The email then asked supporters to donate $15, $25 or $47 and become an "Official MAGA Member," warning them not to wait until October.
"Without support FROM YOU, we could run out of funds to call, text, and advertise in the states that determine Congress," the message said. "I believe you won't let that happen."
The appeal was signed "President Donald J. Trump" and directed contributions through Trump Save America Joint Fundraising Committee, a federally registered fundraising operation associated with Trump and Republican political organizations.
The "nine weeks" claim does not align with the election calendar. The midterm elections are scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, leaving fewer than seven weeks between the email's Sept. 18 delivery and Election Day. Early voting has already begun in parts of the country, including Virginia, while absentee voting is underway in several other states, according to the Associated Press.
The discrepancy suggests the email may have reused language prepared earlier in the campaign. Tracking information contained in its fundraising link also included a Sept. 16 date, although the message reached inboxes two days later.
Trump's warning that the operation could run out of money also contrasts with the substantial resources available across the broader network of Republican and Trump-aligned groups. The Associated Press reported this week that organizations linked to the president are spending more than $130 million to help Republican candidates in competitive races. MAGA Inc. alone held more than $400 million in reserves as of late July.
The message does reflects growing Republican anxiety about control of both chambers. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are being contested in November. Losing either chamber would allow Democrats to block portions of Trump's legislative agenda, control committees and intensify investigations of his administration.
House Democrats have already indicated that they would expand oversight of Trump, his family's business activities, and members of his administration if they regain the majority. Rep. Robert Garcia, who is positioned to lead the House Oversight Committee under a Democratic majority, has said the panel would pursue testimony and records related to alleged conflicts of interest and government contracts. Trump and his allies have dismissed Democratic investigations as partisan.
The Senate battle is also drawing extraordinary amounts of money. In Ohio, Republican groups connected to Trump and other conservative donors have launched a $14 million advertising campaign supporting Republican Sen. Jon Husted against Democrat Sherrod Brown. Nearly $300 million in advertising has already been reserved or spent in that contest, Reuters reported.
Trump's email did not identify the specific states where additional donations would be spent. Instead, it relied on urgency, repetition and the prospect of Democrats reversing his policies to encourage immediate contributions.
"Together, we will continue Making America Great Again," Trump concluded.
