Trump says political funds will cover future ads after bipartisan criticism
publishers 53articles 74first reported 25 Sep, 03:28 UTCdeveloping since 25 Sep · 24 editions
President Donald Trump said Monday that taxpayer money would no longer fund television advertisements featuring him, following bipartisan criticism that the campaign-style spots improperly used public funds to promote his administration ahead of the November midterm elections.
Trump defended the advertisements as a “positive promotion for our Great U.S.A.” and “a rather standard thing to do,” but said he would pay for future spots himself and with money raised by MAGA Inc., a super PAC associated with him. The White House confirmed that MAGA Inc. would fund the ads going forward.
On Tuesday, however, the White House said Trump “was not referring to reimbursement” of federal money already spent. Reports put spending to date at at least $1.5 million, while Democrats have said $20 million was transferred from the Department of Homeland Security for the broader advertising effort.
The ads began airing in September and ended with the disclaimer “Paid for by the U.S. Government.” They promoted Trump’s tax, manufacturing and law-enforcement policies, and some warned of a “final battle” against “globalists” and “warmongers.” The White House called them public service announcements, while lawmakers and legal experts questioned whether they violated restrictions on government propaganda and partisan political activity.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey released Monday found that 86% of U.S. adults considered the use of taxpayer money for the campaign-style ads inappropriate, while 9% approved.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 7 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 138 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 53
- Source articles
- 74
- Given to the writer
- 8, 7 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 138 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →