The Trump administration said Tuesday that taxpayers will not be reimbursed for the $20 million spent on a national television advertising campaign featuring the president.
The commercials, some of which use footage from Trump’s earlier campaigns, have aired during prime-time NFL broadcasts and on major cable news networks. Each spot carries the disclaimer: “Paid for by the US Government.”
In one advertisement, Trump declares, “Together we will defeat communism, socialism, and Marxism in America. America will never be a communist country,” while JMSN’s song “Love Me” plays in the background.
Trump later said his political operation would cover the cost of the commercials, but critics argue the reversal came only after millions of taxpayer dollars had already been spent.
The campaign has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers in both parties.
After facing questions since the ads began airing in late September, Trump said Monday evening: “I have decided to do the Patriotic Ads, among others, and pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc.”
Ad tracking company AdImpact estimates that more than $10 million worth of the taxpayer-funded advertising has already aired.
The spending stems from a $20 million contract issued by the US Department of Homeland Security for a “National Media Campaign,” according to federal records. The contract went to Maryland-based LMD Agency.
A White House spokesperson told the Daily Mail on Tuesday that the government would not recover the money spent on the ads. “The President’s Truth was not referring to reimbursement,” the spokesperson said.
The White House said taxpayers will not be reimbursed after a $20 million national media contract spent more than $10 million airing television ads featuring Trump
The commercials feature footage of Trump and his administration, along with messages including “America will never be a communist country”
The $10 million advertising campaign also included extensive footage of US troops, military vehicles and other equipment
“Presidential Public service announcements are nothing new,” a White House official said.
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“Administrations of both parties have used public service announcements to explain policy and make the case for the nation’s direction.”
White House officials have maintained that the commercials promote the United States rather than Trump personally or the Republican Party.
The administration has also pointed to earlier examples, arguing that Barack Obama’s White House used taxpayer funds to promote policies including the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare.
According to the US Government Accountability Office, Obama-era public relations contracts totaled more than $4.4 billion.
The official said every administration since at least George W Bush’s has aired advertisements supporting its policies, citing earlier presidents including Franklin D Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson as well.
Those explanations have failed to persuade some of Trump’s strongest allies, particularly because the campaign is running just weeks before the 2026 midterm elections.
“It’s a great message. I like the message. But it shouldn’t be paid for with taxpayer dollars,” Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he wished the ads were not funded with taxpayer dollars
Democratic Senators sent a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin decrying the ad blitz as ‘ilegal’ and demanded a refund
Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins, who is in a tight re-election race, called the move ‘illegal,’ while outgoing North Carolina GOP Senator Thom Tillis, declared of the campaign: ‘I hate it.’
Democrats have gone into a frenzy over the matter, sending a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin expressing their fury.
The memo to the secretary called the ads ‘illegal and a shockingly corrupt misuse of taxpayer dollars.’
The Democrats also demanded that DHS repay the money spent on what are effectively Trump ads.