The Trump administration's use of border-security funds for television advertisements featuring the president has drawn objections from senior Republicans and former Department of Homeland Security official Miles Taylor, who called the spending "head-spinningly corrupt."
The advertisements began airing Sept. 23, less than six weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The White House says they are educational public-service announcements, while critics question why Customs and Border Protection money is supporting messages that extend beyond immigration enforcement.
Taylor, who served as DHS chief of staff during President Donald Trump's first administration, characterized the alleged diversion as "theft" in a Substack post. That accusation is his assessment; the reporting does not establish that the spending violated the law.
"Border money is supposed to be spent on the border, not on presidential self-promotion, and certainly not weeks before an election," Taylor wrote.
Republican concerns reach the Senate's leadership. Majority Leader John Thune said he supported the message in one advertisement but objected to its financing: "It's a great message. I like the message," he said. "But it shouldn't be paid for with taxpayer dollars."
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said her panel was not involved in the funding transfer. She criticized the administration for drawing on an account established through the reconciliation law rather than the regular appropriations process.
Federal records showed that the Office of Management and Budget transferred $20 million into a CBP account on Sept. 19, according to The Journal Record. Designated for "OBBBA commemorative events," the account referred to Trump's 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act and previously contained $500,000.
The next day, CBP awarded Maryland-based LMD Agency Inc. a $20 million contract for a "National Media Campaign." The award does not, by itself, establish that LMD produced the advertisements featuring Trump, and the contract's value is distinct from spending on television placements.
AdImpact initially estimated at least $1.7 million in airtime purchases, with subsequent reporting putting the figure at no less than $2.5 million. Roll Call reported that the advertisements carried a government-payment disclosure and appeared during prominent programming, including college football and NFL games.
One spot features Trump calling for the defeat of communism. Another invites viewers to join his "final battle" to "demolish the deep state" and "expel the warmongers from our government," language that has sharpened questions about the campaign's public-service purpose.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump personally advocated for the advertisements and participated in their development, citing a person familiar with the matter. The newspaper contrasted their broad political themes with CBP's customary messaging discouraging unauthorized migration or encouraging departures.
"These public service announcements are about reminding Americans to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending, at home, at our borders, and abroad," a White House spokesperson told NBC News. "The ad is educational and unapologetically patriotic."
DHS separately said it follows applicable contracting rules and keeps decision-makers informed. Questions remain about the specific work covered by the $20 million contract and the statutory authority governing the account used to finance the campaign.
