White House says Trump super PAC won't repay $10M already spent on taxpayer ads

President Donald Trump told supporters that his super PAC MAGA Inc. would reimburse the government for television advertisements that promote his agenda, sparking bipartisan backlash. Within a day, White House officials indicated the promise applies only to ads that will run after the announcement, leaving more than $10 million already spent unreimbursed. A taxpayer-funded spot aired Tuesday lauding the U.S. operation against former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, starring Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Critics from both parties condemned the campaign, and some legal analysts argue it may violate statutes prohibiting the use of federal money for publicity or propaganda. Earlier reports linked Trump’s budget director to a $20 million contract that drew funds from the Department of Homeland Security, and Customs and Border Protection officials said they were not notified of the spending. By midday Tuesday, total ad costs neared $11.5 million, with a new 60-second ad costing about $17,000.