President Donald Trump said Monday, October 5, 2026, that U.S. taxpayers will no longer pay for a series of nationally broadcast television ads celebrating his presidency, after bipartisan criticism and calls for independent investigations into the multimillion-dollar campaign. Trump announced on Truth Social that he will pay for the spots himself or with money from his MAGA Inc super PAC.
What the ads are
The three nationally broadcast ads celebrate a "golden age of America" and portray Trump in a highly favorable light. One features Trump declaring that "America will never be a communist country" while a chorus repeats the words "love me"; another combines images of Mount Rushmore with footage of Trump praising a "golden age of America." CNN reported that the White House has created at least 13 such campaign-style spots, including un-aired ones titled "God Made Trump" and "King of the Jungle." The spots aired during football games as recently as Sunday and end with the disclaimer that they were "paid for by the U.S. government."
Why the ads drew fire
Ethics experts and lawmakers from both parties questioned whether public funds were being used to promote Trump politically, with critics saying the spots may violate longstanding restrictions on government propaganda and political activity. Democratic lawmakers said last month that the White House transferred $20 million in Homeland Security Department funds to air the ads — including one that closely resembles a 2024 Trump campaign ad — and sought independent probes. The New York Times reported, citing sources, that Trump personally directed the White House budget director to use taxpayer money for the spots. California Attorney General Rob Bonta called for an independent investigation, calling it a "staggering misuse of public funding and breach of public trust." FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Republican appointed by Trump, called the ads appropriate and rejected a request to investigate them.
What happens now
In his Truth Social post, Trump called the ads "a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A." and wrote that he would "pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc." A White House official said going forward the ads will be paid for by the PAC. AdImpact, the political ad-tracking firm, estimated that at least $10 million in taxpayer dollars have already been spent airing the spots. MAGA Inc, Trump's political war chest, had amassed more than $400 million by the end of July, according to campaign finance reporting. Neither the PAC nor the White House answered whether taxpayers would be reimbursed for ads that already aired.
Takeaway: Weeks before the November midterm elections, the ad fight has become another test of where the line sits between government messaging and political promotion — and who pays for it.
Watch: Vice President JD Vance defends the taxpayer-funded Trump ads as "not partisan" (C-SPAN clip).
Reel music: Kevin MacLeod - Long Road Ahead B (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0
Sources: Reuters, CNN, Election Law Blog (quoting The New York Times)