Trump hasn't formally conceded and he's not giving up his doomed legal campaign to overturn the results of the election because he's using it to raise money for himself.
But how much money?
Sources who spoke to multiple outlets say Trump has raise more money after the election than he did immediately before. The Washington Post reports that he has raised over $150 million since election day.
President Trump’s political operation has raised more than $150 million since Election Day, using a blizzard of misleading appeals about the election to shatter fundraising records set during the campaign, according to people with knowledge of the contributions.
The influx of political donations is one reason Trump and some allies are inclined to continue a legal onslaught and public affairs blitz focused on baseless claims of election fraud, even as their attempts have repeatedly failed in court and as key states continue to certify wins for President-elect Joe Biden.
The New York Times reports the total is closer to $170 million.
The money, much of which was raised in the first week after the election, according to the person, has arrived as Mr. Trump has made false claims about fraud and sought to undermine public confidence in the legitimacy of President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s victory.
Instead of slowing down after the election, Mr. Trump’s campaign has ratcheted up its volume of email solicitations for cash, telling supporters that money was needed for an “Election Defense Fund.”
Whatever the real amount may be, at least 75 percent the total has been redirected to Trump's own leadership PAC which will allow him to use the money to cover his own personal expenses and lifestyle.
Trump has used the presidency and his campaign to indirectly pay himself by using his own businesses and properties as campaign vendors or venues, but the money he has paid himself through those endeavors is chicken feed compared to what he raised in November. And the latter figures come with almost no strings attached and no accountability.
Whatever Trump decides to do after the electoral college votes for Joe Biden and after Biden is sworn into office, I think it's safe to predict that Trump will be searching for ways to keep this up.
Trump has used the pretense of a "stolen election" to raise money, but I'm not sure if that's even necessary. Tell your average Red Hat that their money is actually being used to fund the lifestyle of a supposed "billionaire" and they may donate anyway. It's possible Trump could drop the pretense and just ask his supporters to donate to his leadership PAC because it would please him.
The Red Hats are a religion and Trump is their God asking for an offering.