Taxpayer‑Funded Pro‑Trump Ads Spark Scrutiny

Television ads featuring pro‑Trump messaging and funded by the U.S. government are drawing bipartisan scrutiny as they expand nationwide ahead of November’s midterm elections. 

The spots, which have cost taxpayers more than $1.2 million so far, prominently feature President Donald Trump alongside campaign themes such as “largest tax cuts in history” and “America will never be a communist country.”

US Government Allegedly Spends $1.2M on Trump Spots

One ad, backed by music repeating “love me,” aired during CBS’ Face the Nation and college football games, while another declared “This is the final battle,” echoing Trump’s 2024 campaign rhetoric. 

Both ads end with disclaimers stating they were “paid for by the U.S. Government,” though the source of funding has not been identified.

The White House defended the ads as patriotic public service announcements, but lawmakers from both parties questioned whether they violate federal prohibitions against taxpayer‑funded propaganda. 

Senator Maggie Hassan (D‑N.H.) called them “political vanity projects,” while Republican Senator John Kennedy (R‑La.) said no public official should spend taxpayer money on personal ads.

With Democrats leading in national polls, the controversy underscores heightened tensions over the use of government resources in electoral politics, raising questions about compliance with appropriations rules and the blurred line between governance and campaigning.