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Politics

White House defends taxpayer-funded pro-Trump TV ad as Democrats allege illegal propaganda

The Trump administration is using federal funds to air a 30-second TV ad praising Donald Trump ahead of the midterms. Democrats allege it violates anti-propaganda law; the White House calls it a patriotic public service announcement.

By James Calloway · · 2 min read

The White House in Washington DC, north facade with fountain and flower beds
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The Trump administration has used federal funds to air a 30-second television advertisement celebrating President Donald Trump, a White House official confirmed, as Democrats allege the spot is illegal government propaganda.

The ad, which ends with the tag “Paid for by the U.S. Government”, began airing on Wednesday on Fox News and Newsmax, less than six weeks before the 3 November midterm elections. It features Trump declaring: “Together we will defeat communism, socialism and Marxism in America. America will never be a communist country”, set against a choir singing the chorus of JMSN’s “Love Me”. On-screen text touts the “LARGEST TAX CUTS IN HISTORY”, “REIGNITING AMERICAN MANUFACTURING” and “DEFEND LAW AND ORDER”, followed by UFC chief executive Dana White calling Trump “the toughest, most resilient person that I’ve ever met”.

Top Democratic appropriators — Rosa DeLauro, Patty Murray, Steny Hoyer and Jack Reed — wrote to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles demanding the ad be taken off air, alleging a violation of Section 718 of Division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, which bars federal funds from being used “for publicity or propaganda purposes”, and raising Hatch Act concerns. Representative Jamie Raskin said it “may be felony criminal theft and conversion of government property for political campaign purposes”. Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican, also called the ad “inappropriate”.

The White House disputes the ad is political, describing it as “educational and unapologetically patriotic”. A White House official said it has no call to action and noted Trump is not on the ballot this year, adding that presidential public service announcements are “not new” and pointing to past Biden-era spots.

AdImpact data reported by the Associated Press put the initial buy at just over $14,000, with later reporting placing the expanded spend at at least $443,000. JMSN has said his song was used without his permission and that he is “looking at lawyers”.

Sources

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