Trump Administration Used CBP Funds for Television Ads Promoting President
A senior Republican senator and a government official confirmed that money allocated for U.S. Customs and Border Protection was used to finance television advertisements that portray President Donald Trump favorably, prompting bipartisan criticism.
The White House spent more than $1.7 million on television spots that present President Donald Trump in a positive light, using funds originally earmarked for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), according to a senior administration official and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. The ads, labeled as public service announcements, carry disclosures that they were paid for by the federal government.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the message was appealing but argued it should not be financed with taxpayer dollars. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the practice, saying only Trump would force Americans to watch and pay for his propaganda. Republican Senator Susan Collins confirmed that the money was taken from CBP funding included in a 2025 appropriations bill and noted that the administration bypassed the normal appropriations process by using a reconciliation account.
The first spot, aired earlier this month, featured Trump speaking about “defeating communism” set to a song by JMSN, whose representatives have issued a cease-and-desist letter over the music’s use. A second spot mirrors a 2024 campaign ad, showing Trump walking down a hallway and urging viewers to join his “final battle” against the “deep state.”
Republican senators Jim Justice, Thom Tillis and others expressed concern over the legality and propriety of diverting CBP funds for political messaging, with Tillis likening the approach to authoritarian propaganda. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, referred media inquiries to the White House, which has not responded.