Trump vows to self‑fund patriotic ads after bipartisan backlash

President Donald Trump said he will stop using U.S. taxpayer funds to finance television advertisements he has fronted, after criticism from both sides of Congress. He told supporters on social media that the “Radical Left” was upset that he was using public money to promote his administration, calling the ads a positive message for the great U.S.A.

Trump stated the practice was “a rather standard thing to do” but had decided to pay for the so‑called Patriotic Ads himself. He plans to use money raised through his MAGA Inc. super‑PAC for the campaign.

The ads, which praise Trump and his policies, raise questions about legality, as federal laws generally prohibit government money for political promotion. Critics argue that a president should not use public funds to advertise his own platforms.

White House officials defended the ads as “educational” public‑service announcements, pointing to past campaigns such as Obama’s health‑care message and Biden’s Covid‑19 vaccine drive. Legal experts, however, note that previous government ads focused on public health or emergencies, not political support.

A Democratic senator filed a measure calling for the ads to be paid for privately; it was blocked by a Republican. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he liked the message but disagreed with using taxpayer dollars for it.

The situation is unfolding ahead of the November mid‑term elections, when the president’s declining approval ratings could affect congressional control. Joe Kennedy stated that public officials, including Trump, should not spend public money on private political ads.

Source: BBC News (October 6, 2026)