Trump says he will pay for ads himself after taxpayer-funded promotion row
Version 2: New Korean outlets joined the story, adding the 3 November midterm election date, the reported redirection of $20m in Homeland Security funds by the budget office, and the fact that Trump did not address refunding money already spent; the core claim that he will pay the advertising costs himself is unchanged and now more widely reported.
In short
US President Donald Trump said he will cover the cost of advertising promoting him and his administration himself, after a dispute over government money being used for the ads. He wrote on Truth Social that “the radical left” was angry about ads funded with government money and that “from now on I will pay the costs”, while repeating that such spending is “quite a common thing” and justified. Yonhap reported the administration has produced at least 13 video ads, with at least $10.1m in government funds spent so far, according to the tracking firm AdImpact.
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US President Donald Trump said he will cover the cost of advertising promoting him and his administration himself, after a dispute over the use of government money for the videos. In a Truth Social post on 5 October, Trump wrote that “the radical left” was angry that ads positively promoting “the great United States” had been run with government money, adding that “from now on I will pay the costs”. Yonhap reported that he indicated the money would come from MAGA Inc., one of the super PACs organised for him, or from his own funds. Dong-A Ilbo said he did not say whether he would return tax money already spent. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Trump maintained that spending tax money on government publicity ads is “quite a common thing” and that it was justified. Dong-A Ilbo reported that the controversy arose over whether it was appropriate to spend tax money on promoting the president ahead of the midterm elections on 3 November. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
According to CNN, cited by Yonhap, the administration had produced at least 13 video ads promoting Trump and his policies as of last week. One ad, titled “King of the Jungle”, intersperses Trump and campaign scenes with images of a lion and an eagle. Another covers his life from his time in New York real estate to the presidency. Others highlight what the documents describe as achievements in a war with Iran and an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Footage used includes a UFC event at the White House, fireworks at Mount Rushmore and a military school graduation. Each ad ended with a notice that the US government paid for it. [ 1 , 4 ]
AdImpact, a political advertising tracking firm, estimated that at least $10.1m (about 13.6bn won) in government funds had been spent on the ads so far. Most were produced in-house by the White House video team, and Trump was reported to have been involved in selecting images and video, according to Yonhap. [ 1 , 4 ]
Government watchdog groups have argued that the ads may conflict with laws restricting the use of the federal budget for propaganda or partisan promotion, Yonhap reported, though it remains unclear whether outside groups have standing to sue. Criticism of the advertising was raised by both the Democratic and Republican parties, but Congress has taken no separate step to halt the campaign ahead of the midterm elections, according to the report. [ 1 ]
Dong-A Ilbo's summary also mentions that the White House Office of Management and Budget redirected $20m (about 27bn won) in Department of Homeland Security funds on 19 September, in a passage about the Customs and Border Protection agency that the summary leaves incomplete. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The dispute concerns legal limits on using federal money for publicity and partisan promotion, and it comes ahead of US midterm elections. Government watchdog groups say the ads may breach those rules, but the documents say it is unclear whether outside groups have standing to sue. Criticism has come from both parties, while Congress has taken no separate step to halt the advertising campaign.
Key facts
- Trump said on Truth Social that he would pay advertising costs himself from now on, after criticism of government-funded ads promoting his administration. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Trump said the money would come from MAGA Inc., a super PAC organised for him, or from his own funds. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Trump said spending tax money on government publicity ads is “quite a common thing” and maintained it was justified. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- According to CNN, cited by Yonhap, the administration had produced at least 13 video ads promoting Trump and his policies as of last week. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The tracking firm AdImpact estimated at least $10.1m (about 13.6bn won) in government funds had been spent on the ads. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Most of the ads were made by the White House video team, and Trump was said to have been involved in choosing images and video. [ 1 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo said Trump did not mention whether he would return tax money already spent, and cited 3 November as the date of the midterm elections. [ 5 ]
- Government watchdog groups have argued the ads may violate laws restricting the use of the federal budget for propaganda or partisan promotion. [ 1 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Trump said he will pay the advertising costs himself, after a dispute over the use of government money for ads promoting him and his policies. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Trump said the money would come from MAGA Inc., a super PAC organised for him, or from his own funds. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Trump maintained that using tax money for government publicity ads was “quite a common thing” and justified. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- At least 13 ads were produced and at least $10.1m (about 13.6bn won) in government funds had been spent on them, per AdImpact. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the government-funded ads breach laws limiting federal spending on publicity and partisan promotion. The claim comes from government watchdog groups cited by Yonhap; the documents say it is unclear whether outside groups have legal standing to sue.
- Which specific funds would cover the ads under Trump's commitment. Trump said the money would come from MAGA Inc. or his own funds, without stating a definitive arrangement.
- Whether Trump will return tax money already spent on the ads. Dong-A Ilbo reports that he did not mention this.
- The reported transfer of $20m (about 27bn won) in Department of Homeland Security funds by the Office of Management and Budget on 19 September. This appears only in Dong-A Ilbo's summary, which is cut off, so the purpose and scope are not fully stated.
- Whether Congress or the courts will act on the advertising. Yonhap reports criticism came from both parties but Congress has taken no separate step to halt the ads ahead of the midterms.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Trump writes on Truth Social that “the radical left” is angry about ads promoting the United States with government money and that “from now on I will pay the costs”. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Yonhap publishes its report on the controversy and Trump's response. [ 1 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes its summary of Trump's statement. [ 2 ]
- Newsis publishes a report on Trump's statement. [ 3 ]
- CBS NoCut News publishes its summary, noting the costs would be covered by personal funds or political donations. [ 4 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo publishes its summary, adding the 3 November midterm date and the budget office detail. [ 5 ]