Trump Shifts Cost of Ads From Taxpayers to $400 Million MAGA Inc. PAC
President Donald Trump said Monday that taxpayers will stop paying for a series of television ads featuring him, Reuters reported. A White House official told Reuters that his super PAC, MAGA Inc., will pay for the spots going forward.
Trump announced the change on Truth Social.
He wrote that critics objected to government money being used for ads he considers positive promotion of the country, and that he would fund what he called the Patriotic Ads, among others, with money he raised for MAGA Inc. CBS News reported that the ads began appearing late last month on national cable and broadcast networks.
Where the Taxpayer Money Came From
According to CBS News, contracting records show the Department of Homeland Security awarded LMD Agency $20 million for a national media campaign beginning Sept. 20.
A nongovernment database shows the White House Office of Management and Budget granted $20 million a day earlier to Customs and Border Protection for commemorative events.
The government produced the content and bought the airtime through an ad agency. Reuters said the spots ran during football games as recently as Sunday.
Ad-tracking firm AdImpact estimated that at least $10.1 million in taxpayer money had been spent on the ads as of Monday. Each ad ends with a disclaimer that the U.S. government paid for it.
Criticism From Both Parties
One ad plays a recording of Trump pledging to defeat communism, socialism and Marxism. Another recounts the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, CBS News said.
The White House has called the ads public service announcements. A White House official told CBS News last month that they are not political, because Trump is not on the ballot and the ads contain no call to action.
A group of Senate Democrats wrote last month that the ads could violate federal laws against government propaganda and limit political activity by executive branch employees.
Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, said on CBS's "Face the Nation" that no public official should spend public money on private ads for themselves.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta called Monday for an independent investigation, Reuters reported. FCC Chair Brendan Carr, whom Trump named to the post, said last week that the ads were appropriate and rejected a request to investigate.
What the PAC Brings to the Midterms
MAGA Inc. held more than $400 million at the end of August, according to Federal Election Commission filings cited by CBS News.
Many Republican candidates had hoped that money would go to battleground states before the November elections, which will decide whether Republicans keep their majorities in both chambers of Congress, CNBC reported.
The group has reported tens of millions of dollars in spending on the Texas Senate race. In that contest, Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton faces Democratic state lawmaker James Talarico.
Trump said last month he would spend whatever amount is necessary to help Republicans, per CBS News.