Television ads with a pro-Trump message — and funded by the U.S. government — are expanding their reach in the run-up to the November midterm elections, prompting both parties to examine whether the campaign is complying with federal restrictions on taxpayer-funded advertising and propaganda.
One of the ads — accompanied by music that repeats the words “love me” — prominently features images of President Donald Trump as he declares, “America will never be a communist country.” Campaign arguments such as “the biggest tax cuts in history” appear on screen during the spot.
The ad aired on national television over the weekend, including on CBS’ “Face the Nation” and at college football games, according to advertising intelligence firm AdImpact. The government has spent nearly $920,000 to air the ad so far.
At the end of the ad, there is a disclaimer that says “paid for by the U.S. government.” The source of the funding has not yet been identified.
A White House spokesperson defended the ads as “public service announcements” intended to remind “Americans to love their country and understand what is worth fighting for, at home, at our borders and abroad.”
“The ad is educational and unapologetically patriotic. We should be proud of our country,” the spokesperson said.
But these ads reflect messages Republicans are expressing on the campaign trail ahead of the November midterm elections. Many attempt to label Democrats as “communists” while touting legislative victories like the tax-cutting “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” — two major themes of the ad.
Democrats are leading in a recent national public poll with just over five weeks until the November election, and they aim to deprive Republicans of their majorities in the House and Senate.
In a second ad, Trump declares, “This is the final battle,” before laying out a series of policy goals like expelling “the warmongers from our government” and freeing “America from these bad guys once and for all.” The message comes from a 2024 digital ad that Team Trump ran during his second White House campaign — campaign promises he made before the Iran war.
That ad has cost taxpayers more than $362,000 so far, airing Sunday during NFL football games and on “Fox News Sunday,” according to AdImpact.
Lawmakers on both sides have taken issue with the ads being funded with taxpayer dollars, especially with the midterm elections just weeks away.
“The ad lacks a clear official government purpose and appears to run afoul of federal prohibitions against using earmarked funds as part of a ‘general propaganda effort intended to assist a political party or candidates,'” Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., wrote in a letter Thursday to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
“This taxpayer-funded political ad is yet another troubling example of President Trump’s growing list of expensive vanity projects – including the White House ballroom – estimated to cost more than $1.8 billion, money that could have been spent to lower costs for Americans,” the senator said.
Top Democratic members of the Appropriations Committees, which distribute federal funds, also took issue with the ads. Capitol Appropriations committees have routinely included provisions in government funding bills prohibiting the use of federal dollars for propaganda purposes.
“If President Trump wants people to like him, he can pay for it himself,” these lawmakers said.
“No part of the appropriations contained in this or any other law shall be used directly or indirectly, including by a private contractor, for any advertising or propaganda purpose in the United States not heretofore authorized by the Congress,” reads the latest government funding bill.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., also appeared to criticize the ads during an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
“I don’t think any public official, including President Trump or (former Homeland Security Secretary) Kristi Noem or John Kennedy, should spend public money on private advertisements for themselves,” Kennedy said. “The White House sees things differently.”
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