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Revealed: WSJ tracks down where Trump’s ad money came from
U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One as he departs for a state visit to Britain, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., September 16, 2025. REUTERS Kevin Lamarque
What happened
AlterNet reports that taxpayer money for President Donald Trump’s television advertisements came from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, using funds Congress provided to the Department of Homeland Security through the 2025 “One, Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The Wall Street Journal traced the funding to CBP through unnamed people familiar with the matter.
According to the Journal, one advertisement was almost…
The skinny
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