Trump to fund ads praising his policies from his PAC after taxpayer-money row
President Donald Trump says such ads will now be paid for by his political action committee after Republicans and Democrats questioned the use of government funds.
A political row has broken out in the United States over government funds being spent on advertisements praising the policies and work of President Donald Trump. Because taxpayers' money was used for the ads, questions were raised by both the Republican and Democratic parties.
The advertisements, which back the Trump administration's policies, appeared across different media. It was alleged that they praised the administration's work and Trump's decisions. As the cost was being met from government funds, questions were raised.
The criticism was that money from taxpayers should go into work for the public and should not be spent on promoting any political leader. Notably, the objection did not come from the Democratic Party alone. Some Republican Party leaders also objected.
The opposition argued that government funds should not be used to burnish a president's political image. Amid growing criticism, Trump has now said that the cost of such advertisements will be met from his political action committee, or PAC.
PAC stands for Political Action Committee. In the United States, such committees can raise money for political purposes and spend it on various campaign-related activities. Future ads in support of Trump are therefore likely to be paid for from his political funds rather than by the government machinery.
The matter has reopened the debate in the United States over the line between public money and political campaigning. The issue being raised is that there should be a clear difference between government advertisements informing people about the president's policies and campaign ads that build up a leader's image.
According to opponents, taxpayers' money should not be used for political campaigning. Supporters, on the other hand, may argue that advertisements are necessary to take the administration's policies to the public. For now, after opposition from both parties, Trump has chosen to shift the spending to the PAC, and the controversy is thought likely to cool somewhat.
