Trump Relents on Government-Funded ‘Patriotic Ads,’ Says He’ll ‘Pay for Them Myself’

Sarah RumpfOct 5th, 2026, 7:29 pm
 
Donald Trump

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

President Donald Trump responded to criticism about his taxpayer-funded “public service announcements” in a Truth Social post Monday, defending the ads and saying he would now pay for them himself.

The first of Trump’s ads aired on Fox News earlier this month, showing the president railing against “communism, socialism, and Marxism,” themes borrowed from his campaign trail rhetoric. Another aired last weekend — also on Fox — and featured black-and-white video footage of the president as he narrated a similar message, vowing to battle the “deep state,” “globalists,” “communists,” and “fake news media.” The ads end with a disclaimer that reads, “Paid for by the U.S. Government.”

Critics denounced the ads as propaganda and a waste of taxpayer money, as well as a potential violation of government ethics laws for being overtly political. Several congressional Republicans were among those criticizing the ads.

The ads have since aired on other networks, including CNN and MS NOW — two of the very media outlets, along with Politico, that Trump has been fighting to ban from the White House.

Trump responded to his critics in a Truth Social post Monday evening that declared he would “pay for them myself” from his super PAC, MAGA Inc.

The Radical Left is upset with the fact that I am taking Ads, which I consider to be a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A., and paying for them with U.S.A. money. This is a rather standard thing to do but, rather than doing that, although nothing will make them happy, I have decided to do the Patriotic Ads, among others, and pay for them myself, and with money I raised for MAGA, Inc. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Funds from MAGA Inc. are being used to support several other Republican candidates on the ballot in November, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), with $5 million going to ads that support the scandal-plagued AG and $5 million to attack his Democratic opponent, State Rep. James Talarico (D).

Trump’s PAC had raised over $403 million at the end of July, The Wall Street Journal reported.

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Sarah Rumpf - Contributing Editor

Sarah Rumpf is an attorney and Contributing Editor focusing on politics, law, and the media. She joined Mediaite in 2020. A native Floridian, Sarah attended the University of Florida, graduating with a double major in Political Science and German, and earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the UF College of Law. Sarah's writing has been featured at National Review, The Daily Beast, Reason, Law&Crime, Independent Journal Review, Texas Monthly, The Capitolist, Breitbart Texas, Townhall, RedState, The Orlando Sentinel, and the Austin-American Statesman, and her political commentary has led to appearances on television, radio, and podcast programs across the globe. Follow Sarah on Threads, Twitter, and Bluesky.