Save America PAC made the donation on July 14, according to public records and the Smithsonian, in a deal the museum said was unprecedented in recent presidential history. Another anonymous donor gave another $100,000. The Washington-based Smithsonian always commissions portraits of departing presidents to hang in the National Portrait Gallery, but usually raises funds from private donors to cover the cost. This is the first time in recent memory that an organization connected to a former president helped fund the portraits, the Smithsonian said. Neither did Barack Obama, George W. Bush nor their political fundraisers were involved in funding their projects, the museum added. The Smithsonian said: “The Save America donation of $650,000 is matched by an additional private donation. They are specifically for the portraits of former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump. “Two artists have been commissioned, one for each portrait. The names will be announced closer to the unveiling of the tables. Funds support artist fees, shipping, framing, installation and events.” A spokesman for Donald Trump did not respond to a request for comment. The Smithsonian’s presidential portraits hold a unique place in American political life. Each outgoing president has been invited to select an artist to paint a portrait of him to hang in the America’s Presidents exhibit—the only comprehensive collection of presidential portraits outside the White House. While most presidents have chosen relatively conservative artists and traditional poses, Obama made waves when he chose Kehinde Wiley to paint him against a backdrop of vibrant green leaves and colorful flowers. The museum did not say who the Trumps had commissioned to paint their portraits or when the paintings would be finished. Unlike most former presidents, Trump has continued to fundraise after leaving office as he weighs another bid for the White House. Trump-linked PACs — including Save America — raised $17 million in the second quarter of the year, down from $23 million in the first quarter, and some observers interpreted the slowdown as a sign that Republican donors are beginning to seriously consider other candidates. But the Save America committee is still sitting on nearly $100 million, according to its latest public filings, showing Trump’s enduring popularity among the Republican base. He has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars donating to groups supporting Trump-backed candidates, including Harriet Hageman in Wyoming and David Perdue in Georgia. Hageman recently beat Liz Cheney to be the Republican congressional nominee from Wyoming, while Perdue lost his bid to unseat Brian Kemp as the party’s nominee for governor of Georgia. Save America has also made donations less focused on winning the election, such as $1 million each last year to two right-wing nonprofit groups, one led by former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows.

According to the latest filings with the Federal Election Commission, the donation to the Smithsonian was Save America’s single largest contribution last month, accounting for about 16 percent of its total spending. There is no limit on PACs’ charitable contributions, according to the FEC, although individual campaigns are not allowed to make charitable contributions that personally benefit the candidate. The FEC recommended that Congress extend campaign restrictions to all PACs last year, but Congress has yet to take up the legislation.