In a major reversal, President Donald Trump said Monday that he and his super PAC will now pay for campaign-style ads that promote his administration, instead of using federal funds.
The announcement on Truth Social came after intense criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with some questioning the legality of using taxpayer dollars for pro-Trump ads.
“The Radical Left is upset with the fact that I am taking Ads, which I consider to be a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A., and paying for them with U.S.A. money,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This is a rather standard thing to do but, rather than doing that, although nothing will make them happy, I have decided to do the Patriotic Ads, among others, and pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc.”
Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc., did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether the president and the PAC would reimburse the government for the ads that have already aired. The White House did not answer that question either.
“MAGA Inc. will pay for the PSA ads moving forward,” a White House official said.
“Presidential Public service announcements are nothing new. Administrations of both parties have used public service announcements to explain policy and make the case for the nation’s direction,” the official added.
AdImpact, a political ad tracking firm, estimated the government has spent at least $10 million to air the ads.
The ads, which portray Trump in a favorable light, included disclaimers saying they were paid for by the U.S. government. One of the spots was virtually identical to a 2024 Trump campaign ad.
NBC News reported last week that the ads were paid for by money intended for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
A Maryland based firm, LMD Agency, was awarded a $20 million contract for the new ads, according to public contracting records. The purpose of the contract was listed as a “national media campaign.”
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have condemned the ads. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called it “propaganda,” while Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who is retiring, likened Trump to former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
“There’s no place for that sort of thing,” Tillis said.
The White House previously defended the ads, calling them “clearly not political” and saying the PSA’s were “about reminding Americans to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending, at home, at our borders, and abroad.”
Ben Kamisar and Laura Strickler contributed.
