Business · World News Bureau
Trump halts taxpayer funding for promotional TV advertisements
The U.S. president-elect announced an end to publicly-funded television spots promoting his candidacy, following criticism from government ethics specialists. The decision came after independent observers called for formal investigations into three national broadcast advertisements.
LSN World News ·
Donald Trump said on Wednesday that taxpayer money will no longer be used to finance television advertisements featuring his image or endorsing his political message, reversing a practice that had drawn scrutiny from ethics watchdogs.
The announcement followed concerns raised by government accountability experts, who flagged three nationally broadcast spots as potentially inappropriate uses of public resources. Ethics specialists had publicly questioned the advertisements and urged relevant authorities to launch independent inquiries into their funding and broadcast practices.
Trump's statement appears aimed at deflating criticism over the controversial ad campaign. Government ethics experts have increasingly scrutinized the use of federal funds for political advertising, particularly when such spending benefits specific candidates or political figures.
The decision marks a shift in approach following weeks of debate about the propriety of using taxpayer resources for promotional materials. Officials familiar with the matter indicated the change would take immediate effect across all federally-supported broadcast platforms.