Trump orders $20 million in taxpayer funds spent on ads praising his presidency
US President Donald Trump has personally ordered that $20 million in taxpayer money be spent on national television airtime for political ads praising his presidency ahead of the midterm elections, The New York Times reports.
US President Donald Trump has personally directed that $20 million in taxpayer funds be used to purchase advertising airtime on national television, according to a report by The New York Times cited by Ukrainska Pravda.
The purchased airtime is intended for political video spots that praise Trump's presidency. The decision comes as the country approaches the upcoming congressional midterm elections.
Context
Midterm elections are widely viewed as a key test for a sitting administration, since their outcome can shift the balance of power between Republicans and Democrats in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The directive to spend public funds on advertising that highlights the president's achievements has drawn attention because it involves using the federal budget for political messaging ahead of a vote.
The source report does not specify which television networks will air the ads, the exact broadcast schedule, or the legal basis cited for the spending. It also does not mention any official response from the White House or the Trump administration to the New York Times report.
