Donald Trump announced on Monday that his political action committee, MAGA, Inc., would pay for pro-Trump advertisements that had previously been funded by taxpayers. This decision follows a significant backlash regarding the use of federal funds for the television spots.
The ads, which Trump described as "a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A.", cost at least $1.5m in federal funds. They featured clips of Trump discussing various topics, including tax cuts and American manufacturing, and one was described as virtually identical to a 2024 Republican re-election campaign ad.
The White House stated on Monday night that MAGA, Inc. would cover the cost of such ads in the future. However, no details were provided on how taxpayers would be reimbursed for ads that have already aired, or how the use of political funds for future advertising would be verified.
Last week, two congressional Democrats, Jamie Raskin and George Whitesides, had requested federal watchdogs investigate whether the Trump administration illegally used taxpayer money for the ads, which began airing in late September. Legal experts suggested the ads might violate federal statutes concerning the use of congressionally appropriated funds for "publicity or propaganda" and limits on partisan political activities by government employees.