Trump makes dramatic U-turn and promises not to use taxpayer money to fund fawning ‘Love Me’ TV ads

Donald Trump reversed course and agreed to personally fund television advertisements praising his presidency after facing criticism over the White House's $5.5 million spending of taxpayer funds on the spots. The commercials, funded by the Department of Homeland Security, featured patriotic imagery and videos of Trump's accomplishments, prompting pushback from lawmakers across the political spectrum who argued the ads violated federal laws prohibiting government use of funds for propaganda.

The Department of Homeland Security commissioned the ads as part of a $20 million contract, with at least four spots having aired since late September on Fox News and other networks. Critics from both parties pointed out that federal law restricts using taxpayer funds for "publicity or propaganda," with House Democrats likening the spots to "government propaganda one might expect in North Korea." After initially blaming the "radical left" for the controversy, Trump announced he would pay for future ads using money raised for MAGA, Inc.