Key facts
- The Trump administration spent approximately $19 million on a national ad campaign featuring President Donald Trump.
- The ads aired on networks including Fox, CNN, MSNOW, Newsmax, CBS, ABC, and ESPN.
- The campaign was funded through a $20 million purchase order issued to LMD Agency under the Working Families Tax Cut Act.
- President Trump will fund future ads through his political committee, MAGA, Inc.
- The administration does not intend to reimburse the federal government for the initial $20 million spent on the ads.
The Trump administration's taxpayer-funded television advertising campaign, which featured President Donald Trump and drew bipartisan criticism, is set to conclude on Sunday, October 11. The campaign, costing $20 million, was funded through a purchase order issued to LMD Agency under the Working Families Tax Cut Act, which allowed for activities related to border security.
Approximately $19 million of the allocated funds were spent on national ad spots aired on networks including Fox, CNN, MSNOW, Newsmax, CBS, ABC, and ESPN. Amid backlash over the partisan nature of the ads, Trump announced that his political committee, MAGA, Inc., would fund future advertisements. However, officials indicated that the administration does not plan to reimburse the federal government for the initial $20 million expenditure.
Democrats have signaled intentions to investigate the matter, with the Democratic National Committee filing a lawsuit in federal court seeking to block the ads, accusing the administration of violating statutory bans on using appropriations for "publicity or propaganda purposes." A separate suit was filed in New York by watchdog group Common Cause and others with similar aims. The ads, which began airing in late September, have been described as "personal publicity and political propaganda."