The campaign had cost taxpayers at least $10.1 million by Monday evening, AdImpact estimated, under a $20 million Customs and Border Protection media contract. Trump pledged Monday to fund future ads personally and through his super PAC, MAGA Inc., but more than $100,000 in taxpayer paid airings of a new spot about the Maduro raid followed that announcement. Those spots still carried the disclaimer “Paid for by the U.S. Government.” The White House said Tuesday that Trump would not reimburse the government for earlier spending.
Vice President JD Vance defended the ads Thursday as providing “transparency to the people,” rather than serving campaign purposes. He had called them “not partisan” earlier in the week. The administration has characterized the spots as public service announcements, despite criticism from both parties. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 86% of Americans considered using taxpayer funds for election related ads inappropriate, compared with 9% who considered it appropriate.