Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance’s participation in a far-right Christian revival tour last month may have potentially breached tax and election laws, according to experts. On September 28, Vance conducted an official campaign event in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, collaborating with the Courage Tour, a series of swing-state rallies orchestrated by a pro-Trump Christian influencer. These events combined prayer, public speakers, tutorials on becoming poll workers, and get-out-the-vote activities.
The Courage Tour is financially supported by Ziklag, a discreet organization of affluent Christians. Documents obtained by ProPublica and Documented reveal that Ziklag plans to spend $700,000 in 2024 to mobilize Christian voters through “targeted rallies in swing states,” led by pro-Trump influencer Lance Wallnau. Prior to Vance’s event, ProPublica reported that tax experts were concerned that Ziklag’s election-related activities could violate tax law. Vance’s appearance raised additional concerns about the possibility of a tax-exempt charity improperly benefiting the Trump-Vance campaign.
The Courage Tour is identified as a project by Lance Wallnau Ministries Inc., a 501(c)(3) charity led by Wallnau, according to Texas corporation records. While several Courage Tour events have been held this year, Vance is the only high-level candidate to have appeared at any of them. Wallnau has previously made controversial statements about Vice President Kamala Harris and is an adviser to Ziklag, which aims to assist conservative Christians in gaining influence over key sectors of American society.
During the Courage Tour, Vance’s campaign segment was strategically placed between tour activities, and it was indicated that Wallnau’s podcast, not the tour, hosted the session. The venue, stage, and audience were shared, and promotional materials blurred the distinction between the rally and Vance’s appearance. Experts in tax and election law have expressed concerns about potential legal implications for Wallnau, the Courage Tour, and Ziklag due to the close association of charitable events with political activities.
Charities, including Lance Wallnau Ministries and Ziklag, are legally prohibited from participating in political campaigns. Internal Ziklag records outline plans to influence the 2024 election by organizing large-scale rallies in critical swing states. Legal experts have noted that hosting a political campaign event funded by charitable organizations could violate tax laws that prohibit direct or indirect campaign interventions.
Instances from the past, such as Jimmy Swaggart’s campaign endorsements, have demonstrated the IRS’s willingness to take action against political activities by religious groups. The financial aspects of Vance’s participation in the Courage Tour may determine the legal outcome; if a charity funded Vance’s appearance, it could constitute a violation. Ziklag’s involvement, even if indirect, might still be considered problematic under tax law prohibitions on campaign interventions by charitable organizations. Vance’s appearance highlights potential issues with federal election law, which prohibits corporations, including nonprofit corporations, from making campaign contributions. Legal experts suggest that if Vance’s appearance was financially supported by a corporation, it could be seen as an in-kind contribution to the Trump-Vance campaign.
Ziklag, Wallnau, and the Vance campaign declined to provide comments on the matter.
