President Donald Trump announced on Monday, October 5, 2026, that his super PAC, MAGA Inc., will begin paying for a series of television advertisements that were previously funded by the federal government. The decision follows bipartisan criticism regarding the use of taxpayer dollars for the spots, which feature the president. Trump defended the advertisements on Truth Social as "positive promotion for our Great U.S.A." but stated he would transition the costs to his political organization to address the objections.
The advertisements, which carry the tagline "Paid for by the U.S. Government," began airing in late September 2026. The campaign was funded through a contract awarded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the LMD Agency for a "National Media Campaign." Additionally, the White House Office of Management and Budget granted DHS's Customs and Border Protection $20 million for "OBBB Commemorative Events." While the administration described the spots as public service announcements (PSAs), critics argued they resembled campaign materials.
The ad campaign features at least four different spots. One includes Trump discussing the defeat of "communism, socialism and Marxism," while another uses footage from his speech at Mount Rushmore. A third ad includes footage of Trump walking down a hallway warning of a "final battle." A fourth spot focuses on the war in Iran and features audio of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The federal government has already spent between $1.4 million and $2.5 million on the airtime, according to estimates from AdImpact. A White House official stated on October 6 that the president does not currently plan to reimburse the federal government for the funds already spent on these broadcasts.
The transition of costs to MAGA Inc. affects the resources available for the upcoming November midterm elections. The super PAC reported having more than $400 million on hand at the end of August 2026. The organization has recently spent tens of millions of dollars on the Texas Senate race. The shift also addresses legal concerns raised by Senate Democrats and some Republicans, such as Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), who suggested the use of public funds might violate federal laws prohibiting the use of appropriated money for "publicity or propaganda" or partisan political activity by executive branch employees.
While the White House confirmed that MAGA Inc. will cover future costs, officials did not provide specific details on how the public will be able to verify that government funds are no longer being used. The midterm elections are scheduled for November 2026, and the advertisements are expected to continue airing under the new funding structure. It is currently unknown if any formal investigations into the initial use of taxpayer funds will proceed in Congress or through federal oversight agencies.