Trump Administration Diverts CBP Funds for Self-Serving TV Propaganda
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A senior Republican senator and a government official have confirmed that the Trump administration misused money allocated for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to finance television ads glorifying President Trump, sparking bipartisan outrage over the blatant abuse of public resources for personal political gain.
The White House, under President Trump, funneled more than $1.7 million—originally intended for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)—into television spots designed to glorify Trump, according to a senior administration official and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. These so-called 'public service announcements' are thinly veiled propaganda pieces, brazenly funded by taxpayer dollars and labeled as such.
Even Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, admitted the message was appealing but condemned the use of public funds for such self-serving purposes. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized the move, pointing out that only Trump would force Americans to bankroll and endure his propaganda machine. Republican Senator Susan Collins confirmed that the money was siphoned from CBP funding in the 2025 appropriations bill, and highlighted the administration's disregard for democratic norms by bypassing the standard appropriations process through a reconciliation account.
The first ad, aired earlier this month, featured Trump ranting about 'defeating communism'—a tired right-wing trope—set to music by JMSN, whose representatives have since demanded the administration stop using their work. A second spot, indistinguishable from a 2024 campaign ad, shows Trump strutting down a hallway, calling on viewers to join his so-called 'final battle' against the fabricated 'deep state.'
Republican senators Jim Justice, Thom Tillis, and others voiced concerns about the legality and ethics of hijacking CBP funds for political messaging, with Tillis comparing the administration's tactics to authoritarian propaganda. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, dodged accountability by referring all questions to the White House, which has yet to respond.