Trump says Super Pac will pay for taxpayer-funded ads that sparked outcry

President Donald Trump has said his MAGA Inc super PAC will pay for the taxpayer-funded ads that sparked bipartisan outcry in Washington. In a Truth Social post on Monday, October 5, Trump said he would pay for the “Patriotic Ads” himself or with money raised by the committee, ending the use of public funds for the spots. The reversal followed days of criticism over millions of dollars in federal money spent on television commercials glorifying him just weeks before the November congressional elections.

FAKTA

Backlash over the taxpayer-funded ads

The spots began airing in late September and ran during football games as recently as Sunday. All carried an unusual tagline: “Paid for by the U.S. government.” Ethics experts and lawmakers from both parties questioned whether public money was being used to promote Trump politically so close to the November congressional elections, warning the ads could violate longstanding restrictions on government “publicity or propaganda.”

Democratic lawmakers said last month that the White House had transferred $20 million in Homeland Security funds to air the spots — including one closely resembling a 2024 Trump campaign video — and sought independent probes into the spending, a campaign Watan News is following in its world news coverage.

Mount Rushmore imagery featured in one of the taxpayer-funded ads celebrating a “golden age of America.” (Illustration: Watan News)

Trump reverses course on Truth Social

“The Radical Left is upset with the fact that I am taking Ads, which I consider to be a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A., and paying for them with U.S.A. money,” Trump wrote on Monday. He said it was “a rather standard thing to do,” but added: “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 official told reporters on condition of anonymity that the ads would going forward be paid for by the PAC. The White House had defended the spots as public service announcements with no call to action, noting that Trump is not running for office — a point Trump repeated himself: “I’m not promoting myself because I’m not running for office. I’m promoting the country.”

When pressed by a reporter last week, Trump had already signaled a possible climbdown: “If somebody said that that’s wrong, I’ll gladly pay the money.”

Legal questions and calls for accountability

Despite the reversal, critics are demanding proof that the taxpayer funding has fully stopped and that the money already spent is repaid. Senator Adam Schiff publicly demanded evidence that the practice has ended permanently and called for the return of any misused funds.

Before the announcement, Representatives Jamie Raskin and George Whitesides had formally asked the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Special Counsel to investigate whether the administration illegally used taxpayer money. Their letter called the commercials “desperate pre-election propaganda,” pointing to federal statutes that bar the use of appropriated funds for political purposes.

The U.S. Capitol: lawmakers questioned whether public funds were used to promote Trump politically weeks before the midterms. (Illustration: Watan News)

Conclusion

Trump’s decision to have MAGA Inc fund the ads marks a sharp reversal after days of bipartisan criticism over the use of public money for the spots. But with questions about past spending unanswered and watchdogs being asked to investigate, the controversy over the taxpayer-funded campaign is far from over. This article is also published on the Watan News main website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MAGA Inc.?

MAGA Inc. is Donald Trump’s main super political action committee — his primary campaign-finance war chest, which entered the fall of 2026 with about $400 million raised since his re-election.

Why were the ads controversial?

They were paid for with taxpayer money and broadcast nationwide weeks before the November midterms. Critics said the spots — which glorify Trump and celebrate a “golden age of America” — amounted to political propaganda that may violate federal restrictions on the use of public funds.

How much did the ads cost?

Ad-tracking estimates vary: about $5.5 million according to one AdImpact-based estimate, and more than $10 million according to the New York Times, which also reported a $20 million Department of Homeland Security contract behind the campaign.

What did Trump announce?

On Monday, October 5, Trump said on Truth Social that he would pay for the “Patriotic Ads” himself or with money raised by MAGA Inc, ending the use of taxpayer funds for the spots.

What are critics demanding now?

Proof that taxpayer funding has stopped for good and that the money already spent is repaid. Lawmakers have also asked the GAO and the Office of Special Counsel to investigate whether federal law was broken.