Washington, Oct 06 (V7N)- US President Donald Trump has said taxpayer money will no longer be used to fund television advertisements featuring and praising him, following widespread criticism of the campaign-style ads aired ahead of the November midterm elections.

Trump made the announcement Monday (October 5) in a post on social media, while defending the advertisements as “positive promotion for our Great U.S.A.” He said future ads would instead be funded by him or his political organization, MAGA Inc.

The advertisements have cost at least $1.5 million in federal funds, according to US media reports. They have been broadcast nationally, including during football games, and carry a disclaimer stating that they were paid for by the US government.

MAGA Inc., Trump’s political war chest, had more than $400 million by the end of July. However, Trump did not provide details on whether taxpayers would be reimbursed for money already spent on the advertisements or how future payments by the political organization would be handled.

The ads have drawn criticism from lawmakers and ethics experts across the political spectrum. One advertisement features Trump declaring that America will never become a communist country, while another uses images of Mount Rushmore alongside footage of Trump promoting what he calls a “golden age” for America.

Democratic lawmakers have alleged that the White House redirected $20 million from the Department of Homeland Security to finance the broader media campaign. Contract records show DHS awarded a $20 million contract for a national media campaign, while federal budget records indicate funds were moved to a Customs and Border Protection account.

Critics have also alleged that at least one of the advertisements closely resembles material from Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. The controversy has prompted calls for independent investigations into whether federal funds were improperly used for political purposes.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday filed complaints with the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Special Counsel, calling for investigations. He accused the administration of misusing taxpayer funds for partisan political purposes.

The Federal Communications Commission chairman, Brendan Carr, has defended the advertisements as appropriate and rejected a request for an investigation, according to reports. Carr is a Republican appointed by Trump.

Trump's decision to shift funding for the advertisements comes as scrutiny intensifies over the use of government resources for political messaging ahead of the November midterm elections. The White House has defended the spots as patriotic and public-service messages, while critics argue they amount to political promotion funded by taxpayers.

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