After bipartisan criticism, Trump says taxpayers dollars will no longer be used for TV ads promoting him
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.Trump made the announcement on Truth Social after intense criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, some of whom questioned 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 Trump and it 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.For SubscribersFOR SUBSCRIBERSTips came in just minutes after Cornell alerted students to an alleged sex assault at a frat houseFOR SUBSCRIBERSWhat’s on the Supreme Court’s docket this term?FOR SUBSCRIBERSFord CEO: ‘It’s our responsibility’ to make sure affordable cars are sold in the U.S.FOR SUBSCRIBERSDOJ moves to revoke U.S.
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