A day after President Trump said his super PAC would pay for television ads promoting him that had been funded by taxpayers, White House officials said the group did not plan to reimburse the government for the more than $10 million it had already spent on the ads. Mr. Trump announced on Monday evening that he was planning to have his super PAC, MAGA Inc., pay for the ads, which had drawn backlash from members of both parties. The White House officials later said that his promise would only apply “moving forward.”
Then, on Tuesday, a new taxpayer-funded ad — bragging about the American success in taking out Venezuela’s former leader Nicolás Maduro — began airing on television. The new ad features Mr. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Officials in both parties have criticized the ads, which are being aired amid a heated midterm campaign.
Facing backlash, Mr. Trump appeared to retreat on Monday, posting on Truth Social, “I have decided to do the Patriotic Ads, among others, and pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc.” A White House spokesperson said on Tuesday that “the president’s Truth was not referring to reimbursement.” As of midday Tuesday, nearly $11.5 million has run, including a small sum for the new 60-second ad about the Venezuela operation.
The ads are running nationally on cable and network television and paid for through a $20 million contract using funds from the Department of Homeland Security. Senator Chuck Schumer called for an investigation, saying Trump “must return this money to the American people.” The White House did not respond to questions about canceling remaining ad funds.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing