Trump Administration Used Homeland Security Funds for Pro-Trump Ads
Sources indicate that Department of Homeland Security funds were rerouted to a Customs and Border Protection account for "commemorative events" before being used for a national media campaign featuring the president.
The Trump administration utilized funds from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to air television advertisements featuring President Donald Trump, according to sources familiar with the matter. These funds were moved into a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) account designated for "commemorative events" on September 19. The following day, a contract worth $20 million was awarded to the LMD Agency, a Maryland-based advertising firm, for a "National Media Campaign." Shortly thereafter, the ads began airing.
The ads, which have reportedly cost at least $1.7 million to broadcast across television, digital, and connected TV channels, feature President Trump. One ad that aired on NBC's "Meet the Press" showed Trump at a speech. Another ad, which aired during college football on Saturday and on "Fox News Sunday," was previously used in a 2023 Trump campaign advertisement.
Critics have raised concerns that the ads could violate federal propaganda laws. The White House, however, has defended the advertisements as "public service announcements." A White House spokesperson stated that the ads aim to "remind Americans to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending, at home, at our borders, and abroad," describing the ad as "educational and unapologetically patriotic."
Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee have formally questioned the use of these funds. They sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin seeking answers regarding the allocation of the money, the potential continuation of the ads, and DHS's involvement in their airing. The letter expressed concern that taxpayer dollars are being used for campaign-style ads for the president, contrasting this with unmet needs for healthcare and housing.
Federal budget records indicate that the funds originated from a component of the 2025 tax and spending bill. This bill allocated $6.2 billion for border security improvements, with a portion also earmarked for "commemorating efforts and events related to border security."