WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security has released $20 million to fund the campaign style ads glorifying President Donald Trump who drew widespread criticism Republicans and Democrats alike as a blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars that likely runs afoul of anti-propaganda law.
In a letter sent Tuesday to the Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullintwo top Democratic senators said the money came from Trump’s so-called agenda. “A big, beautiful bill” and was supposed to go to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“We should not have to remind you that using government funds to create or distribute political ads like those that have aired in recent days is illegal and a shocking misuse of taxpayer dollars,” wrote Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the subcommittee that handles homeland security funding.
Senators demanded answers in the next 48 hours on “how this president is literally stealing his tax dollars to run campaign ads celebrating him.”
They asked the secretary whether the department would consider using additional federal funds to run these ads or create new ones, and if so, share contracting information with Congress. They also asked Mullin if he had spoken to Trump about using taxpayer dollars for ads.
The political outcry over Trump’s hagiographic ads, which began airing last week on popular television shows including college and National Football League programs, has not subsided as critics on the left and right raised alarms over the use of taxpayer dollars, particularly so close to the midterm elections.
The White House defended the ads, which reveal they are funded by the U.S. government, as public service announcements.
Asked Tuesday for comment on the senators’ letter, Homeland Security referred to the White House’s earlier response.
Advertising spending could reach $2.5 million as criticism and legal scrutiny mount.
The unusual ads, which echo Republican Party midterm election slogans, set against images from Trump’s tenure — one with the chorus of the song “Love me, Love me” in the background — appear to violate a law prohibiting the use of funds appropriated by Congress for propaganda purposes.
Experts also said the ads, which air on networks, cable TV and streaming, differ from other administrations’ public service announcements because they are not designed to help Americans access a specific program.
During the weekend, a new announcement The president’s promotion resembles a black-and-white video from his own 2024 campaign that shows Trump walking down a hallway as his voice is heard warning of a “final battle” against “globalists” and “warmongers.” It ends with Trump looking directly into the camera lens with the message “Paid for by the US Government” printed.
Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, compared Trump’s ads to those used by the former authoritarian leader. Viktor Orban from Hungary. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said it “should not be funded with taxpayer dollars.”
Data from external firm AdImpact shows more than $2.5 million was spent on the three ads over the past seven days. The actual amount spent could be much higher, depending on whether networks classify ads as political.
The senators said in their letter that DHS has committed $20 million to the campaign.
A person who was not authorized to discuss the situation and spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the findings, first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Trump ads use taxpayer money, likely skirting the law
The unusual ad campaign comes as Republicans face an increasingly volatile midterm election season, with their control of the House and Senate — as well as Trump’s future agenda — all under threat.
Voters say they are struggling with high gas and food prices and are concerned about America’s long-running war with Iran, now in its seventh month. The Democrats are preparing extensive surveillance of Trump and his administration if they take power, and impeachment is not ruled out.
House Democrats said Trump’s Office of Management and Budget director Russ Vought shifted $20 million from Homeland Security resources to the Sept. 19 ad campaign.
The next day, a $20 million contract for a “national media campaign” was awarded to Maryland-based LMD Agency, Inc., according to federal data. LMD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Homeland Security funds are part of the massive $175 billion Congress gave the department in the “Big, Beautiful Bill” as part of Trump’s immigration enforcement and deportation agenda. Democrats voted against the program, which Trump signed into law last summer, in part because of steep cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security subcommittee, said that after gutting $1 trillion from Medicaid and Social Services and “more than quadrupling funding for mass deportations, it appears that the Trump administration used the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill to fund President Trump’s political ads.”
They said that if Democrats regain control, they “will work to uncover and reverse abuses of taxpayer dollars like this and hold accountable those who abused their power.”
What is also striking about the administration’s use of taxpayer dollars for advertising is that Trump’s own political campaign committee, MAGA inc., has hundreds of millions of dollars in funding that could be used during the midterm season. MAGA Inc.-aligned groups have begun shelling out money for House and Senate races.
The administration has defended the use of taxpayer dollars for advertising and has shown no signs of changing course.
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