Trump Says MAGA Inc. PAC Will Pay for TV Ads Funded by DHS
- 30, 2026, that he and his political action committee will pay for controversial television ads praising his presidency, shifting the financial burden away from the U.S.
- Trump stated on Truth Social that he and his political action committee, MAGA Inc., would take over funding for the promotional spots moving forward.
- AdImpact figures show that approximately $9.7 million was spent through Oct.
President Donald Trump announced on Sept. 30, 2026, that he and his political action committee will pay for controversial television ads praising his presidency, shifting the financial burden away from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. According to tracking by AdImpact reported by CNBC, roughly $9.7 million in taxpayer funds had already been spent to air three ads featuring Trump through Oct. 5, out of a total $20 million set aside for the campaign.
MAGA Inc. Funding Shift
Trump stated on Truth Social that he and his political action committee, MAGA Inc., would take over funding for the promotional spots moving forward. The White House subsequently clarified that the super PAC will pay for public service advertisements going forward rather than covering the spots that already aired on television.
AdImpact figures show that approximately $9.7 million was spent through Oct. 5 to broadcast three distinct commercials featuring the president. Those broadcasts ran during the weeks leading up to the November midterm elections, which will determine control of both chambers of Congress. Critics argue the spots closely mirror Republican campaign talking points, with one commercial featuring Trump stating that America will never be a communist country.
Trump Shifted Federal Funds for Promotional TV Ads
The New York Times first reported that Trump personally instructed his budget director to tap federal funds for TV ads praising him and his administration. Federal funding for the project became available on Sept. 19 when the Office of Management and Budget shifted $20 million from Customs and Border Protection funds into a budget category titled One Big Beautiful Bill Commemorative Events, according to The New York Times.
A White House spokesperson defended the spots in a statement to CNBC in late September, describing them as educational public service announcements designed to remind citizens to appreciate their country. MAGA Inc. reported raising $424.4 million and spending $32.4 million during the 2025–26 cycle through Aug. 31, leaving the super PAC with $415.8 million in cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Lawmakers Challenge Legality of Using Taxpayer Money
Lawmakers and advocacy groups challenged the legality of financing the promotional campaign with government funds. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., wrote a Sept. 24 letter to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles arguing that the advertisements lacked an official government purpose and violated federal prohibitions against using appropriated funds for partisan propaganda efforts.
These campaign ads never should have run on the taxpayer’s dime to begin with.
Sen. Maggie Hassan
In a statement released on Oct. 5, Hassan asserted that the ads were clearly wrong and illegal, calling for the president to immediately repay taxpayers for the money already spent. Last week, the advocacy group Public Citizen filed formal complaints urging the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and television broadcasters to halt the broadcasts. Public Citizen also asked the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Special Counsel to investigate whether the ad campaign violated federal propaganda restrictions and the Hatch Act.
November Midterm Elections
The controversy surrounds midterm elections scheduled for November 2026, which will decide whether Republicans maintain their majorities in Congress. MAGA Inc. has spent at least $57 million overall during the current election cycle, according to a CNBC analysis of Federal Election Commission filings.