Former DHS chief of staff Miles Taylor and Republican lawmakers have questioned the use of border-security funds for television advertisements featuring President Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The Trump administration used U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) funds to finance the advertisements, according to a federal official and Republican Senator Susan Collins. The first of three reported advertisements began airing on 23 September 2026, ahead of the 3 November midterm elections.