Trump won't repay US for political ads, White House says

US President Donald Trump will not reimburse taxpayers for political ads that have already aired, the White House said Tuesday, after Trump had said he and his campaign would pay for advertisements promoting him before November's midterm elections.

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday that he had decided to pay for the ads himself and with money he raised for MAGA, Inc. The White House later said the post “was not referring to reimbursement.”

Trump then appeared to leave the question open, telling reporters at the White House: “The ads were really good. They were promotion for the country, done by many presidents before. So we'll decide.”

US media reported that the Trump administration used $20 million from Department of Homeland Security funds to pay for the ads. One ad showed Trump warning of a “final battle” and carried an onscreen message saying it was paid for by the US government.

The White House defended the ads last week as public service announcements. Democrats called them illegal and propaganda, while some senior Republicans expressed reservations.