President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended television ads paid for with U.S. government funds that promote him, saying in the Oval Office that they were intended to promote the country rather than his political interests. He said he would repay the money if the advertising were found improper.
The ads began airing last week, according to the Washington Sun, after Customs and Border Protection awarded a $20 million contract for a national media campaign. The outlet reported that lawmakers from both parties had raised concerns about the spending. FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the ads did not warrant agency review and described them as normal public service announcements, NBC News reported.