Karoline Leavitt's 2022 campaign still owes $323,000 — and there's no cash left to pay it back
Karoline Leavitt, Trump's White House press secretary, faces scrutiny over her 2022 campaign's $326,370 debt. The campaign, Karoline for Congress, owes money to numerous creditors due to unreturned illegal donations. With no recent fundraising and an ongoing FEC audit, the debt remains unpaid, highlighting challenges in campaign finance regulations and enforcement.
Getty Images White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's 2022 campaign still owes over $326,000 to donors and vendors, according to FEC filings, with no funds raised in recent months to pay off the massive debt. Karoline Leavitt, now Trump's White House press secretary, still has a big money problem from her 2022 failed congressional campaign. Her campaign, Karoline for Congress, owes $326,370.50 to over 100 creditors — and hasn't paid off any of it. From April to June 2025, her campaign raised zero dollars, meaning no new funds came in to clear the debt. Most of this debt comes from illegal or too-large donations her campaign took years ago but never returned, as per the report by Open Secrets. As of June 30, the campaign has no cash left. It already spent the extra money it wasn't supposed to accept. Dozens of people are owed refunds, including big names like Former NH Gov. Craig Benson and Former NH Senate Leader Robert Clegg Jr.Many companies are also owed large amounts, Axiom Strategies — $46,747, Remington Research Group — $41,000, Fundraising Inc. — $12,815. In January 2025, the campaign changed 17 finance reports to show previously hidden contributions that broke federal limits.
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In April, Leavitt's campaign refunded a few donors, including her parents, who got $2,900 each. Rob Phillips of AxCapital, the campaign's treasurer, did not reply to any media questions. A source close to Leavitt told OpenSecrets that Leavitt herself doesn't personally owe the money. The campaign is under an FEC audit, and that's why the debt is still there.
In November 2022, the group End Citizens United filed a complaint with the FEC, saying the campaign broke finance laws. But the FEC can't take action now — because since May 2025, it has only three commissioners, not enough for decisions, as per the report by OpenSecrets. Trump hasn't nominated new FEC commissioners, even though names were recommended. Until then, the FEC can't approve investigations or fines. End Citizens United president Tiffany Muller said this shows people can break campaign laws and still get away with it.
Leavitt was just 23 years old when she started running for Congress in New Hampshire's 1st District. She won the Republican primary but lost the general election to Democrat Chris Pappas by 8 percentage points. If she had won, she would've been the youngest woman ever elected to the U.S. House, as per the report by OpenSecrets. Leavitt began her political career in Trump's White House mailroom, then became an assistant press secretary. She was Trump's press secretary for the 2024 campaign and after he won, she was named White House press secretary at age 27 — the youngest ever. Trump praised her as 'smart,' 'tough,' and a 'highly effective communicator', as per the report by Daily Beast. Candidates don't personally owe the money — the campaign does. But when a campaign loses and runs out of money, paying back debt is tough. The campaign can try to raise money from new donors. The candidate can personally pay, but that's rare.Hillary Clinton paid back $22.5 million from her 2008 campaign by selling merchandise, offering time with Bill Clinton, and renting out supporter data. She cleared her debt by 2013.Kamala Harris' campaign had over $1 million in debt from her 2020 run but paid it off after joining the Biden-Harris ticket. Biden's campaign helped pay it. Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House, still owes $4.63 million from his 2012 campaign — the most by any candidate. Al Sharpton (2004) — still owes nearly $926,000 as of Dec. 2024 Rick Santorum (2012 & 2016) — owes big money Mike Pence (2024) — also has leftover campaign debt Sharpton's campaign even stopped sending reports to the FEC, which sent them a warning.
Q1. Why does Karoline Leavitt's 2022 campaign still have unpaid debt?
Karoline Leavitt's campaign owes over $326,000 due to illegal and excessive donations it accepted and never returned.
Q2. Is Karoline Leavitt personally responsible for the campaign debt?
No, Karoline Leavitt is not personally liable; the debt belongs to her 2022 congressional campaign committee.
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