Trump says he will stop using taxpayer funds for self-promoting ads after backlash – US politics live

President Donald Trump has announced that he will stop using public funds to finance television commercials highlighting his accomplishments, shifting the expenses to his political apparatus following public backlash.

Writing on his social media platform, Trump stated that upcoming promotional commercials will be funded personally and through his allied super PAC, MAGA Inc. The shift occurred after reports revealed that at least $1.5 million in government funds had been used to produce and air the television spots.

Trump justified the original ad campaign by describing the broadcasts as positive promotion for the United States, characterizing the government funding as a standard practice. He attributed the public criticism over public spending to political opponents. However, neither Trump nor the White House provided specifics regarding whether the federal treasury would be reimbursed for commercials that have already appeared on television. The administration also did not explain how outside spending would be independently verified going forward.

The initial commercial featured footage of Trump discussing efforts against communism alongside captions promoting historical tax cuts, domestic manufacturing growth, and support for law enforcement. A subsequent broadcast incorporated footage of Mount Rushmore accompanying excerpts from Trump’s speech during Fourth of July celebrations marking the nation's 250th anniversary.

The advertising shift comes amid political headwinds for the administration. Recent polling shows Trump’s approval rating falling to a low of 32 percent. When questioned about the figures while traveling to campaign for a Republican Senate candidate in Nebraska, Trump insisted he was doing great.

Tensions between the White House and the press corps also surfaced during the Nebraska trip. According to a CNN report, a reporter from Politico was denied permission to fly aboard Air Force One. The action follows a previous incident involving CNN, occurring despite an earlier judicial order temporarily barring the administration from banning several news organizations, including Politico, CNN, and MS Now, from the White House.

In other political news, former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has agreed to join Fox News as an on-air contributor. Leavitt, who became the youngest press secretary in presidential history at age 29, departed the administration in August following the birth of her second child.

Meanwhile, public health officials are contending with escalating illness in the northeast. Pennsylvania has identified more than 1,000 measles cases this year, marking the country's largest outbreak. In response to rising infections, New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a disaster emergency declaration.

At the Supreme Court, justices opened their term by hearing arguments regarding whether municipalities can pursue legal action against energy corporations for climate damage. The litigation was initiated by local authorities in Boulder, Colorado, against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy.

Internationally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed suggestions that the repositioning of American B-1 bombers from a British military installation was prompted by a suspected Iranian threat detected the prior week. Rubio stated that military planners continually shift assets based on operational requirements and expressed confidence in installation security.