WASHINGTON (TIP): Donald Trump has said that he will spend at least $2 million a week on his campaign to become the Republican party’s presidential candidate.

The billionaire frontrunner, who has not spent large sums as part of his bid to date, said he will earmark $2 million a week for television advertising in the first three voting states.

The controversial figure has said that, although he did not believe he needed to spend any money, he did not want to take anything for granted.

He said: “I don’t think I need to spend anything. And I’m very proud of the fact that I’ve spent the least and achieved the best result.

“I feel I should spend. And honestly I don’t want to take any chances.”

The 69-year-old has spent nothing on television advertising so far, but more than$300,000 on radio advertising time – still far less than his rivals.

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush has spent more than $40 million on his campaign, but is trailing Trump and several other candidates in the nomination race.

The majority of Trump’s campaign has been funded by donors across the country, sending him cheques or buying merchandise from his website.

“I’ll be spending a minimum of $2 million a week and perhaps substantially more than that,” he said.

“If somebody attacks me, I will attack them very much and very hard in terms of ads.”

Trump said he had screened his first two adverts, which touch on immigration, trade and national security policy.

When the real estate mogul announced his candidacy in June, he said he planned to spend $35 million by 1 January 2016.

But his provocative and plain-speaking style has resulted in a steady stream of media coverage – which has included, in recent weeks, his call to ban all Muslims from entering the US and claim that Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton was “schlonged” to the presidency by Barack Obama when they both ran for their party’s nomination in 2008.

Trump has also said he believes that the thousands of people who attend his rallies will ultimately turn out and vote for him.

Iowa’s caucuses will begin the voting on 1 February.

(AP)