Cash-Strapped RNC Spent $250,000 on Limos in a Year, Finances Reveal

Despite dwindling funds, the Republican National Committee (RNC) spent some $250,000 on limos over 12 months.

At the end of November, the GOP governing body reported its lowest bank balance at that point in any year since 2016, disclosures to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) revealed Wednesday.

With $9.96 million in spending money, the RNC had less than half the $21.35 million it reported in 2016, after Donald Trump won the presidential election.

But despite this, the FEC disclosures revealed that since October 21, 2022, the committee spent $256,635 on limousine cars as travel expenses.

As originally reported by RedState reporter Jennifer Van Laar, the RNC booked limos with multiple companies, including AGC Limo and ITEXT Limousine

Newsweek has contacted the RNC by email to comment on this story.

In a less luxurious form of transportation, the RNC also booked 56 Uber cab journeys from January to November 2023, with the largest payment—on January 10 of this year—amounting to $31,296.55.

In other expenses, the RNC racked up multiple hotel bills. In 32 transactions to different branches of the Four Seasons Hotel, the RNC spent $622,204.93 on travel expenses, venue hire and catering, fundraiser supplies and parking. It also spent thousands of dollars at other hotels including Marriot Hotels and Hilton Hotels, with one Marriot Hotel transaction amounting to $659,848.52.

It spent $75,000 to rent the Ritz Carlton in Dallas, Texas, in October. The amount also involved catering charges.

The RNC also spent money on fast-food expenses including 67 transactions at Starbucks from January 2023 to November 2023, amounting to $4,655.55.

In the same period, the GOP body made 13 transactions at fast-food chain Shake Shack, 23 transactions at McDonald's and 17 transactions at Chipotle.

Meanwhile, Van Laar's analysis also showed the RNC spent more than $70,000 on floral arrangements since October 2022 and almost $9,000 in dry cleaning.

It comes amid the committee dealing with wider financial issues. During Donald Trump's presidency, the RNC's finances increased and by 2021 the committee had $65.47 million in useable finances.

However, during Joe Biden's presidency their coffers have taken a hit. The RNC reported $17.28 million after the midterm elections in 2022 and in October this year, it reported a cash balance of just $9.12 million—the lowest since 2015.

Sources familiar with the GOP's fiscal status told the Washington Post in November that donations to the party have dropped in recent years.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC), on the other hand, this week reported cash on hand of over $20 million, almost double the figure that the RNC had reported.