Trump had pledged Monday to pay for future ads with personal money and MAGA Inc. funds after bipartisan criticism. At least $10.1 million in taxpayer money had already been spent by Monday evening, AdImpact estimated, out of $20 million allocated from Customs and Border Protection funds. The White House confirmed Tuesday that Trump would not reimburse the government for past spending.
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the ads during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, telling Politico that the only one he had seen “looked like a public service announcement” and was “pro-Americana,” rather than a plea to vote for anyone. “If the Super PAC’s funding them, that’s good,” he said. Johnson declined to say whether Trump should refund taxpayers.