President Donald Trump personally directed his budget chief to find taxpayer money to fund television advertisements praising him and his presidency, the New York Times reported Friday, citing 12 people familiar with the matter.
On September 19, the Office of Management and Budget shifted $20 million in Customs and Border Protection money into a budget line called 'One Big Beautiful Bill Commemorative Events,' the Times reported. The next day, CBP awarded a $20 million contract to Maryland marketing firm LMD for airtime purchases through a second firm, LMO.
The ads — some carrying the disclosure 'Paid for by the U.S. Government' — have aired on Fox News, CNN, MS Now, CBS, ABC and NBC, including during 'Meet the Press,' 'Good Morning America,' NFL broadcasts and 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' At least $5.5 million of airtime has been spent so far, according to the reporting.
Critics, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator Susan Collins, said the spending may violate the decades-old federal ban on using public money for 'publicity or propaganda.' Trump pushed back: 'If somebody said that that's wrong, I'll gladly pay the money. I'm not promoting myself because I'm not running for office. I'm promoting the country.' The White House describes the spots as public-service announcements.
