As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, Republican candidate Donald Trump is facing increasing scrutiny over a growing number of unpaid bills. These financial obligations include unpaid expenses from past rallies, legal fees from various lawsuits, and debts in the private sector.
Trump, who is set to challenge Democratic candidate and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, is trailing her in key polls just weeks before the election. Recent surveys, including a Marist poll, show Harris leading Trump by five points, with other polls reflecting a similar margin. Meanwhile, Harris's campaign has surpassed $1 billion in fundraising, nearly doubling Trump’s efforts in the past three months. Contributions from small donors have significantly declined for Trump, with donations of $200 or less making up less than a third of his campaign funds, a sharp drop from nearly half during the 2020 campaign.
Trump's financial troubles are compounded by numerous outstanding payments owed to cities across the U.S. for rally-related expenses, including public safety costs, facility rentals, and security measures. For example, the City of Prescott Valley in Arizona stated that Trump still owes $25,737 from a 2022 rally. The city also requested advance payment for his most recent rally held earlier this month, due to his history of missed payments.
Other cities are dealing with similar issues. Mesa, Arizona, claims that Trump owes $64,477 for a rally held in 2018, and El Paso, Texas, says the former president’s campaign owes them over $569,000 for a 2019 rally. Despite attempts to collect these debts, cities like St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Lebanon, Ohio, also report unpaid invoices for rally-related costs, with amounts ranging from $16,000 to over $200,000.
The Trump campaign's financial woes extend beyond rally expenses. Trump has also accumulated significant legal bills, including a $2 million payment to former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who is embroiled in legal issues of his own. Giuliani, facing $148 million in damages to Georgia election workers and other legal fees, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2023. Trump has reportedly used over $100 million in campaign funds to cover his legal costs as he battles multiple court cases.
Trump's history of failing to pay bills dates back decades, with a 2016 USA Today investigation revealing 3,500 lawsuits against him over unpaid bills and wage disputes. Even before entering politics, Trump owed millions to contractors involved in the construction of his Taj Mahal Hotel in Atlantic City, with some debts remaining unpaid for over 30 years.
As the election draws near, Trump's unpaid bills and financial challenges are raising questions about his campaign's stability, especially as several cities now require upfront payments for services to avoid further losses.
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