Politico says the millions of dollars it received from the U.S. government were for subscriptions and should not be construed as some kind of subsidy or quid pro quo for positive coverage.

Politico CEO Goli Sheikholeslami and editor-in-chief John Harris acknowledged the “spirited discussion” at the White House over $8 million in payments from U.S. Agency for International Development and other agencies.

Politico “has never been a beneficiary of government programs or subsidies — not one cent, ever, in 18 years,” its leaders wrote in a memo.

It noted that payments went to subscriptions for Politico Pro, an in-depth segment of its business that covers policy areas and might be useful to government workers. 

Base subscriptions cost between $12,000 and $15,000.

“We are proud of the value our POLITICO Pro platform and policy journalism gives to all subscribers. As a practical matter, the overwhelming majority of our professional subscriptions under POLITICO Pro are in the private sector,” the Politico leaders wrote.

SEE ALSO: Trump administration axes $8 million in Politico subscriptions paid by taxpayers

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Department of Government Efficiency, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, will work to end the payments.

“I can confirm that the more than $8 million taxpayer dollars that have gone to, essentially, subsidizing subscriptions to Politico on the American taxpayers’ dime will no longer be happening,” Ms. Leavitt said Wednesday during a press briefing.

While she referred to “subscriptions,” President Trump claimed something more nefarious was at play.

Mr. Trump, posting in all caps on Truth Social, said billions had been stolen from U.S. AID, “much of it going to the fake news media as a ‘payoff’ for creating good stories about Democrats.”

He called it potentially the biggest scandal in history.

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.