A Club for Growth representative declined to comment. While some Club for Growth officials are involved with the new political action committee, the Club for Growth itself is not expected to attack Trump in the primary.
McIntosh, a former member of Congress from Indiana, came out firmly against Trump earlier this year, telling reporters that “the party should be open to another candidate.”
The organization did not invite Trump to a donor retreat it held in Palm Beach, Fla., this spring, though it did invite other candidates seeking the GOP nomination.
Trump campaign senior consultant Chris LaCivita pushed back on the group, saying: “It’s no surprise that David McIntosh, a pro-China, America last, failed congressman wannabe is organizing another swampy D.C. insider super PAC.”
“Their goal is to maintain their shady influence over Washington because they know President Trump stands in their way as he protects Americans from these vultures,” LaCivita added. “These swamp dwellers will be crushed— without mercy and without remorse— and put back under the bridges where all trolls reside.”
The Club for Growth and Trump have a long and complicated history. The anti-tax group spent heavily against Trump during the 2016 GOP primary, though it warmed to Trump during his presidency, and McIntosh emerged as an outside political adviser to Trump. Trump and McIntosh remained close until 2022, when the two parted ways during the Ohio Senate primary. After Trump endorsed now-GOP Sen. J.D. Vance, the Club for Growth held fast in its support for a rival candidate, Josh Mandel, and aired ads attacking Vance.
At one point, Trump sent a crude note through his assistant to McIntosh. Since then, Trump has aggressively attacked the group – earlier this year calling it “The Club For NO Growth.”
Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group linked to billionaire Charles Koch, is also expected to wage an effort to stop Trump from winning the nomination. The outfit recently announced that it had raised more than $70 million.
Several rival GOP candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, have aggressively gone after Trump, though he remains the polling leader.
