President Trump has said he will pay for future ads, but the White House says past ad spending will not be reimbursed to taxpayers.
Published October 7, 2026
The Trump administration says the taxpayer-funded TV ads are patriotic and remind people why they should love America and why it’s worth protecting. But the overwhelming majority of Americans say their taxes shouldn’t pay for it.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that 86% of Americans, including four in five Republicans, think it is inappropriate to spend public money on election-related TV ads featuring President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet.
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The poll comes as President Trump has said he will stop spending taxpayer money on advertising. On Monday, he said he would instead pay for it with funds raised by himself and his political action committee, MAGA Inc.
What remains unclear is whether he will reimburse taxpayers for ads that have already aired. The White House announced Tuesday that the president would only pay for future ads, but Trump appeared to leave room for reimbursement to the government, telling reporters afterward, “The ad was really good. It was promoting the country like a lot of presidents have done in the past. So we make the decision.”
The Trump administration is facing growing criticism for airing a number of government-funded ads touting “America’s Golden Age” in the run-up to November’s midterm elections.
In one song, a choir sings “I Love You” over a montage of President Trump declaring that the United States will “never become a communist country.” In another article, President Trump uses the image of Mount Rushmore to usher in a new “America’s Golden Age.” The third is darker. Trump walked toward the camera in black and white and warned of a “final battle” against the “deep state” and other perceived enemies.
All three end with a disclaimer: “Costs paid by the U.S. government.”
The ads have already cost taxpayers at least $1.4 million, according to media tracking firm AdImpact, and are aired not only on streaming services but also on network and cable television, including during high-rating shows like NFL games.
Democratic lawmakers are calling for an independent investigation, alleging the White House transferred $20 million in Homeland Security funds for campaign expenses.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the ad in a speech on the Senate floor, saying, “Americans sat down to watch football, not to be force-fed President Trump’s propaganda for their own benefit.”
However, criticism has also come from within President Trump’s own party.
“This should not be paid for with taxpayer dollars,” Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters last month.
The White House defended the ad as a public service announcement, pointing to government-funded campaigns under the previous administration promoting Medicare, Affordable Care Act subsidies and coronavirus vaccinations. President Trump’s ad similarly aims to remind Americans to “love our country and understand what makes it worth protecting.”
But critics say there is a crucial difference. Those ads were tied to specific government programs and policies, while President Trump’s ads were not.
“There’s nothing here that’s focused on any particular policy,” Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, told The Associated Press.
Experts interviewed by The Associated Press also pointed to potential legal issues, saying the ad could violate federal regulations regarding the use of funds appropriated by Congress for “public relations and propaganda,” as well as rules restricting partisan political activity by government officials.
“I’ve seen all three ads, and they’re pure propaganda,” Painter said. “This is starting to look like something authoritarian governments do to promote their leaders.”
