WASHINGTON (AP) — A day after President Donald Trump said he would start paying for controversial taxpayer-funded ads with a campaign account, there's no sign he plans to refund the millions of federal dollars already spent on them.
Nearly $12 million worth of ads have already aired, according to AdImpact, as part of the $20 million the Department of Homeland Security tapped for the contract.
But Trump’s plan to pay for the ads with MAGA Inc. doesn’t mean there’s any reimbursement coming, said a White House official who was not authorized to talk publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Trump said the ads were “really good” and “promotion for the country, done by many presidents before.” Asked whether he'd repay the funds already spent, he said, “We’ll decide.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer slammed Trump for not committing to reimbursement and said he believes the president’s plan for covering future costs represents illegal coordination with his super PAC.
“Trump must return this money to the American people and there must be a full investigation into this gross waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars,” Schumer told The Associated Press.
The ads, which began airing in late September, glorify Trump and echo his political messaging going into the midterms. One features a clip of Trump talking about the threat of communism and another is a replay of an ad from his last presidential campaign. The fifth ad in the campaign began airing Tuesday, focusing on the Trump administration's capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Republicans and Democrats alike have said the ads aren't an appropriate use of U.S. government money. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, said they shouldn't be paid for with taxpayer dollars.
The Trump administration tapped $20 million from the Department of Homeland Security to pay for the campaign-style ads glorifying the president that have drawn widespread criticism. Two top Democratic senators said last week that the money is being drawn from Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” and was supposed to go toward U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, who chairs the panel that oversees DHS funding, said Tuesday that she had not yet seen Trump’s ads, but she said taxpayer money should be used as intended.
“We’ll take a look at that,” Britt said at the Capitol. “You want to make sure that any use of taxpayer dollars is done judiciously and in accordance with the law.”
Legal experts said the ads might even violate federal statutes, including a law against congressionally appropriated money being used for “publicity or propaganda” and another limiting the partisan political activities of government employees.
The White House has defended the ads as public service announcements similar to what past administrations have done to promote policies. Trump on Monday posted on his Truth Social platform calling the ads “positive promotion for our Great U.S.A.” while also promising to pay for them with “money I raised for MAGA Inc.”
That is Trump’s political war chest, which had amassed more than $400 million by the end of July. Trump has begun tapping it to boost Republican candidates across the country in the midterm elections.
AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump gestures to reporters as he walks on the South Lawn upon his arrival at the White House, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Spain preserved its 2½-year unbeaten streak by rallying to beat Croatia thanks to a clutch second-half double from super-sub Mikel Merino, while Harry Kane scored two more goals on another record-setting match for the England captain.
The marathon batch of Nations League matches ended Tuesday with Merino — a star off the bench so many times for Spain in recent years — powering home an 88th-minute strike to complete the world champions’ stirring recovery in a 2-1 win in Split.
The Arsenal midfielder had already equalized in the 61st minute after entering as a halftime substitute, with Spain trailing to a goal by veteran midfielder Ivan Perišić. That marked the first time the Spanish had conceded the first goal in a match since the European Championship in 2024.
Kane’s double in England’s 3-0 win over Czechia came on his record-tying 125th appearance for his country. It took him to 91 international goals, extending an outright England record.
“It was the perfect night for me personally and also the team,” said the Bayern Munich striker, who is among the favorites for the Ballon d'Or being awarded on Oct. 26.
Spain joined Portugal as the only teams to win all four of their group games in the Nations League over the last two weeks and has confirmed its place in the competition's quarterfinals taking place in March.
England's only dropped points in that period? They came in a loss to Spain.
Time and again, Merino delivers off the bench for his country.
At the recent World Cup, he netted a stoppage-time winner over Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in the round of 16 and then in the 88th minute to see off Belgium in the quarterfinals a few days later.
Two years earlier, Spain's progress to the Euro 2024 title included a win over Germany in the quarterfinals sealed by Merino's 119th-minute winner.
On Tuesday, there he was again, dancing around the corner flag — to mimic his father Miguel's goalscoring celebration from the early 1990s — after coming to Spain's rescue against Croatia.
“He understands these moments in a match so well,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. “He’s got that gift for goals and important ones, too.”
His first goal was a lovely sidefooted finish after Merino received a short pass in the area from Dani Olmo. The second was a rising shot that flew into the roof of the net.
Spain is now undefeated in 42 matches dating back to a loss to Colombia in March 2024 and is still setting the standard in world soccer.
England coach Thomas Tuchel said this week he was running out of superlatives for Kane and his teammates think the same.
“There’s not much more you can say that hasn’t already been said," England star Jude Bellingham said after Kane inspired the team to a third straight win and the brink of the Nations League quarterfinals.
“He is the best England player to ever wear the shirt and it is an honor to play with him."
Kane, who moved level with former goalkeeper Peter Shilton on the list of most caps won for England’s men’s team, swept home a close-range finish in the 40th minute and headed home at a corner in the 57th to push to 91 England goals.
Before that, it was Kane who sent in the cross that Czechia right back Vladimir Coufal turned into his own net to put England ahead.
Kane can break the appearance record when England plays Croatia on Nov. 12, also at Wembley.
“He will inspire loads and loads of young people to play football and encourage people to have a career like him and try their luck,” Tuchel said. “He’s a fantastic role model and he deserves the praise.”
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
England's coach Thomas Tuchel hugs Harry Kane during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between England and Czechia in London, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
England's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring third goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between England and Czechia in London, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Spain's Mikel Merino, center, celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during a Nations League soccer match between Croatia and Spain in Split, Croatia, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
