Trump reverses on ad funding

President Donald Trump announced Monday that he and his super PAC MAGA Inc. will now pay for campaign-style ads promoting his administration instead of using federal funds.

Bipartisan lawmakers questioned legality

Trump made the announcement after intense criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, some of whom questioned whether using taxpayer dollars for pro-Trump ads was legal.

Trump's explanation on Truth Social

Trump wrote on Truth Social that he decided to pay for the ads himself and with money raised for MAGA Inc. rather than using government funds, calling them patriotic ads.

“I have decided to do the Patriotic Ads, among others, and pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc.”

Ten million already spent

AdImpact, a political ad-tracking firm, estimated the government has spent at least ten million dollars to air the ads, which portrayed Trump favorably and included disclaimers saying they were paid for by the U.S. government.

Funds came from border agency

NBC News reported the ads were paid for by money intended for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, but senior leaders at the agency were cut out of the decision.

Twenty million contract awarded

A Maryland-based firm, LMD Agency, was awarded a twenty million dollar contract for the new ads, according to public contracting records listing the purpose as a national media campaign.

Lawmakers condemn the ads

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the ads propaganda, while retiring Senator Thom Tillis likened Trump to former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, saying there is no place for that sort of thing.

“There's no place for that sort of thing.”

No word on reimbursement

MAGA Inc. and the White House did not answer whether Trump and the super PAC would reimburse the government for ads that have already aired using taxpayer dollars.