Trump Promised to 'Pay for' His Ads Himself, but White House Says He Won't Repay Millions Already Spent

About $12 million has already been spent on the Trump administration's 'patriotic' advertisements from a $20 million Department of Homeland Security contract, but the White House said President Donald Trump does not plan to reimburse taxpayers for the money already used.

The clarification came after Trump said he would 'pay for' the ads himself, using money raised for his political organisation, MAGA Inc. The White House subsequently said his announcement applied only to advertising going forward, not to costs already incurred.

Trump Says MAGA Inc. Will Fund Future Ads

Trump announced the change on Monday, saying he had decided to run the 'Patriotic Ads' with money he had raised for MAGA Inc., his political fundraising vehicle.

The move followed growing criticism of ads that were initially paid for with federal money and have featured Trump and themes closely associated with his political messaging.

One advertisement includes Trump discussing the threat of communism, while another is a replay of an advertisement from his previous presidential campaign. A fifth advertisement began airing Tuesday, and focused on the Trump administration's capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, according to media outlets.

When asked about the money already spent, Trump told reporters Tuesday that the ads were 'really good' and described them as promotion for the country done by many Presidents before. When asked whether he would repay the federal funds, he said, 'We'll decide.'

White House Defends Use of Taxpayer Money

A White House spokesperson told The Washington Sun that Trump's statement about paying for the ads 'was not referring to reimbursement.' The White House further clarified that Trump would pay for the advertisements 'moving forward', potentially leaving the federal government responsible for the costs already incurred.

According to AdImpact data cited by the Associated Press, nearly $12 million worth of the ads had aired by Tuesday. The advertisements began airing in late September and carry a disclaimer stating that they were paid for by the US government.

In short, the White House described the ads as presidential public service announcements and has argued that previous administrations used government-funded advertising to explain policies and promote their agendas.

White House Argument Faces Criticism From Both Parties

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said the advertisements should not be paid for with taxpayer money. Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer went further, calling for Trump to return the money and for an investigation into the spending.

Schumer also argued that Trump's plan to use MAGA Inc. to pay for future advertisements could amount to unlawful coordination with the super PAC.

MAGA Inc. had reportedly accumulated $400 million by the end of July and had already begun using its political funds to support Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections.

Legal experts have raised questions about whether the ads could violate federal restrictions on the use of appropriated money for 'publicity or propaganda,' as well as rules governing partisan political activity by government employees.

Whether the ad spending ultimately faces further scrutiny remains an open question, but there is currently no indication that the administration plans to reimburse taxpayers for those costs.