10 million tax payer dollars……
Trump does not plan to reimburse government for taxpayer-funded ads
Source: USA Today
Oct. 7, 2026, 10:58 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump does not plan to reimburse the federal government for television ads promoting his agenda that he financed with taxpayer funds, according to the White House, even after saying he would have his Super PAC start paying for the controversial ads.
A White House official told USA TODAY that Trump was not referring to any reimbursement when, in an Oct. 5 Truth Social post, he said he plans to pay for the ads with money from MAGA Inc., a Super PAC operated by his allies.
More than $10 million in government-funded ads have aired since Sept. 23, according to AdImpact, which tracks spending on political ads. The money came from the Department of Homeland Security, which awarded a $20 million government contract to an advertising agency called LMD Agency, Inc. to carry out the advertising campaign.
More: Trump says taxpayer-funded TV ads are 'for the country,' not himself
Federal law prohibits the use of government funds to pay for political advertising, and the ads, which are airing a month before the election, have sparked bipartisan criticism. The White House has argued that the ads are "public service announcements," not political ads, because they don't reference the Nov. 3 election or any particular candidate.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/07/trump-wont-reimburse-government-funded-taxpayer-ads-midterm-election/92133512007/
By
Mainecat ·
