Trump says he will stop using taxpayer funds for ads after bipartisan pushback

October 6, 2026

President Donald Trump announced he will discontinue using federal taxpayer money to fund television advertisements featuring himself after facing criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. The controversial ads, which promoted Trump's policies and contained political messaging against his perceived enemies, had aired in the weeks leading up to the 2026 midterm elections. Trump stated he would instead finance these "Patriotic Ads" through personal funds and his MAGA Inc super PAC, though he defended the practice as standard.

Who is affected

US taxpayers (whose funds were used for the ads)
President Donald Trump
Democratic and Republican lawmakers in Congress (including Senator Maggie Hassan, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senator John Kennedy)
The Democratic Party (facing midterm elections)
Legal ethics experts (such as Margaret Dylus-Yukins)
The White House administration

What action is being taken

President Trump is stopping the use of taxpayer funds for the ads
Trump is switching to personal funds and MAGA Inc super PAC money to pay for future ads
Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan introduced a measure denouncing the administration's use of government funds (which was blocked by a Republican)

Why it matters

This matters because it raises fundamental questions about the appropriate use of taxpayer money and the boundaries between legitimate government communication and political propaganda. The timing immediately before midterm elections—which traditionally serve as a referendum on presidential performance—heightened concerns that public funds were being improperly used for partisan political advantage. The bipartisan nature of the criticism underscores the seriousness of the ethical and legal concerns, as even members of Trump's own party objected to the practice.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC