President Donald Trump announced he will stop using U.S. taxpayer funds to pay for his promotional television spots, after bipartisan backlash.
He said the ads have been a positive promotion for “Great U.S.A.” and he will finance them from money raised by his MAGA Inc. Super PAC, calling them a standard practice.
The spots, aired over the last few weeks, praise Trump’s tax cuts, U.S. manufacturing, law and order, and pledge to eliminate the so‑called “deep state,” using language that calls for the removal of communists, Marxists and fascists.
Legal experts note that government advertising has traditionally covered public‑health or emergency matters, not political promotion. Senator Maggie Hassan introduced a measure to bar taxpayer‑funded presidential advertising, which passed the Senate but was blocked by a Republican.
Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have said the ads should not be paid for with taxpayer dollars. The controversy arrives ahead of the November mid‑term elections, when Democrats seek a majority in Congress.
The White House describes the spots as “educational” public‑service announcements and cites precedents from previous administrations, but critics argue that the ads serve only to promote the President. November mid‑term elections could see a shift in voter sentiment as polls show Trump’s approval falling.
