DHS Officials Contradict Trump on Noem's $200 Million Ad Campaign Knowledge
Multiple unnamed Department of Homeland Security officials have come forward claiming President Donald Trump was fully aware of the controversial $200 million advertising campaign orchestrated by former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, directly contradicting the president's public statements. According to a new report, these officials assert Trump not only knew about the expensive promotional blitz but was actively involved in its planning and execution.
The Costly Campaign That Sparked Controversy
The advertising initiative, which began airing early last year, featured Noem on horseback near Mount Rushmore delivering stern warnings to illegal immigrants. These commercials quickly became among the most expensive government advertising campaigns in American history, drawing criticism from both political parties and raising serious questions about fiscal responsibility within the administration.
When Trump dismissed Noem from her DHS position on March 5, a senior administration official told NBC News that the extravagant ad spending was a primary factor in her termination, alongside her management of the Minnesota immigration crackdown and alleged conflicts with other federal agencies. The president himself publicly claimed ignorance of the campaign's massive budget, stating he "wasn't thrilled with it" and emphasizing he "didn't know about it."
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
Noem, however, consistently maintained during congressional hearings preceding her dismissal that the 79-year-old billionaire president had been thoroughly briefed on her department's promotional offensive. Now, multiple sources close to the administration have corroborated her version of events, telling The Daily Beast that Trump had received detailed briefings about the DHS advertisements and was deeply engaged in their development.
"The president knew about the campaign and wanted it to happen," one source revealed, directly challenging Trump's public denial of involvement. Another senior DHS official raised serious questions about the financial management of the campaign, asking "where did that money go?" and expressing willingness to submit to a comprehensive audit of every expenditure.
Contract Controversy and Political Connections
The advertising contracts were reportedly awarded to a select group of companies with connections to Noem and her top advisers. One firm, Safe America Media, received at least $16 million for its involvement in the campaign according to The Associated Press. This company was established by Republican operative Mike McElwain just days before securing the lucrative government contract.
McElwain's longtime business partner, Pat McCarthy, maintains connections to several of President Trump's closest aides, adding another layer of political complexity to the contracting process. The White House reportedly instructed in February 2025 that Safe America Media "be considered" for the DHS advertising initiative, later approving the firm once it was selected by the department.
A White House spokesperson responded to inquiries by stating that "contracts are awarded by individual agencies" and that "the White House has no involvement in an agency's contract decisions," creating further ambiguity about the administration's role in the controversial spending.
Noem's Consistent Narrative and Aftermath
In a recently resurfaced interview from February 2025, Noem claimed the multi-million dollar campaign was actually Trump's own concept. She recounted the president telling her: "I want you to do those [ads] for the border. I want you to do those everywhere, not just in the United States, but I want them around the world." When she asked if he wanted to appear in the advertisements himself, Trump reportedly responded: "nope, nope. I want you to do them."
Since her departure from DHS, where she has been appointed as special envoy to the Shield of the Americas initiative focusing on hemispheric security, Noem has not publicly challenged the administration's narrative. However, an unnamed official told The Daily Caller that she felt "thrown under the bus" by the president's contradictory statements.
The controversy has escalated with several Democratic lawmakers recently referring Noem to the Department of Justice for a potential perjury investigation. They allege she "misled" Congress about the advertisements in what they describe as a "brazen" attempt to avoid accountability for the expensive campaign.
