Government spent $10 million on pro-Trump ads after president said super PAC would fund

Washington kept paying for television spots promoting President Trump well after he said his MAGA Inc. super PAC would take over the bill. NPR's review of AdImpact data shows nearly $22 million in taxpayer money has gone to the five-ad campaign since late September, with nearly $10 million spent after the president's Oct. 5 Truth Social announcement.

Common Cause and other plaintiffs sued, arguing the spending lacked congressional approval and broke limits on taxpayer-funded publicity and propaganda. The White House calls the spots public service announcements about patriotism. A federal judge ordered the government Sunday night to cancel all placements, yet hundreds more airings ran into early Monday. An anonymous White House official told NPR the court's notice arrived too late, that the last government-paid spots ran Sunday, and that outside groups will pay from now on.

The ads include a photo montage of the president, a repeat of a 2024 campaign spot, and two highlighting military operations in Venezuela and Iran. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 86% of Americans, including 80% of Republicans, call taxpayer-funded election-related ads featuring the president or cabinet members inappropriate.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NPR’s reporting. Read the full story at NPR →