White House says Trump won't repay taxpayers for ads already aired
The White House said Tuesday that President Trump will not pay taxpayers back for TV ads that praise his record. A day earlier, he said his super PAC would pay for future ads. About $11.6 million in public money has been spent so far, Politico reports, and a new ad came out Tuesday.
President Donald Trump's super PAC will pay for future government-style TV ads, but taxpayers will not get back the money already spent, the White House said Tuesday.
On Monday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would "pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc." It was not clear whether that meant repaying money already spent. On Tuesday, a White House spokesperson told the Washington Examiner and Axios that the post "was not referring to reimbursement."
The ads, which the White House calls "Patriotic Ads" and public service announcements, have run on cable and network TV, including during NFL games. They carry the line "Paid for by the U.S. Government." They were paid for through a $20 million Department of Homeland Security contract. About $11.6 million has been spent so far, Politico reports. Politico also reports that the White House released a new ad on Tuesday.
Trump defended the ads in his post. He called them "a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A." and said using government money for them was "a rather standard thing to do." Vice President JD Vance said Monday that past administrations, including Obama's, used tax dollars to advertise the Affordable Care Act.
Critics, including members of both parties, call the ads political. One spot closely copies a 2024 Trump campaign ad, cut shorter and with the government label added, Axios reports. Axios also notes that federal law generally bars federal officeholders from directing how super PACs spend money.
The public appears to side with the critics. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll taken Sept. 30 to Oct. 5, 86% of adults said using taxpayer money for election-related TV ads featuring the president or his Cabinet is inappropriate. That included 80% of Republicans.
The White House has not explained how anyone could confirm that MAGA Inc. is paying for future ads.
What we know: The White House says there will be no repayment for ads that already ran.
What we don't: How MAGA Inc.'s payments for new ads will be tracked or shown to the public.
Where outlets agree Politico, Axios and the Washington Examiner all report that the White House said Trump's pledge did not mean repaying the government for ads that already aired.
Where they differ The White House and Vice President Vance call the ads standard public service spots, while critics in both parties call them taxpayer-funded political ads.