Trump reverses on taxpayer-funded pro-Trump TV ads, but White House says PAC covers only future spots

Trump announced Monday via social media that taxpayer funds would no longer be used for the ads, saying either he or MAGA Inc. would pay for them going forward.

The ads cost at least $1.5 million in federal funds, drawing criticism from lawmakers of both parties who objected to the use of public money for commercials praising the president. The White House later clarified that MAGA Inc. would pay for such ads in the future, not for those that had already aired. Trump provided no details on reimbursing taxpayers for past spots.

Three ads, $20 million transferred

The controversy centered on three nationally broadcast ads that began airing in late September ahead of the November midterm elections. One features Trump declaring that “America will never be a communist country.” Another shows images of Mount Rushmore paired with footage and quotes of Trump praising a “golden age of America.” A third closely resembled Trump’s 2024 Republican reelection campaign ad, showing him walking down a hallway as his voice warns of a “final battle” against “globalists” and “warmongers.” All three end with a disclaimer stating they were paid for by the US government. The spots ran on Fox News, Newsmax, CBS, Fox, NBC, CNN and ABC, among other networks.

Democratic lawmakers said the White House transferred $20 million in Homeland Security Department funds to air the ads. The New York Times reported that Trump personally instructed his budget director to use taxpayer money for the spots. Federal money became available on Sept. 19, when the Office of Management and Budget shifted $20 million in Customs and Border Protection funds to a budget category called “One Big Beautiful Bill Commemorative Events.” AdImpact, a media-tracking firm, recorded roughly $9.7 million spent to air the three ads through Oct. 5.

Critics see propaganda and possible law violations

Legal experts and critics said the ads may violate federal statutes, including laws against the use of appropriated funds for propaganda and the Hatch Act, which restricts partisan political activity by government employees. Sen. Maggie Hassan wrote a Sept. 24 letter to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles calling the ad lacking a clear official government purpose. Rep. Jamie Raskin and Rep. George Whitesides wrote to the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Special Counsel describing the commercials as “desperate pre-election propaganda.” The advocacy group Public Citizen filed complaints urging investigation and cessation of the ads. California Attorney General Rob Bonta called for an independent investigation, calling it a “staggering misuse of public funding and breach of public trust.”

The White House defended the ads as “public service announcements” intended to remind Americans to love their country. A White House spokesperson said the announcements are “very clearly not campaign ads.” Trump characterized the ads as “a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A.” and called them “a rather standard thing to do.” FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Republican appointed by Trump, said the ads were appropriate and rejected a request to investigate.

A $400 million war chest, but no repayment plan

MAGA Inc., Trump’s political action committee, had amassed more than $400 million by the end of July. FEC filings show it raised $424.4 million in the 2025-26 cycle through Aug. 31, with $415.8 million in cash on hand. Sen. Adam Schiff called for the White House to show proof it had stopped using taxpayer dollars and that Trump pays the money back. “Let’s see the proof this illegal waste of your taxes is over for good,” Schiff said. “And that he pays the money back. We don’t want the U.S. taxpayers to be the latest contractors to get stiffed.”