The Trump administration has spent at least $443,000 on television advertisements featuring President Donald Trump, funded by U.S. taxpayers. The spots, which began airing this week on Fox News and Newsmax, have sparked bipartisan criticism from lawmakers who argue the content resembles campaign material just weeks before the November midterm elections.
According to the Associated Press, the advertisements include segments where the president declares that “America will never be a communist country” and highlights his administration’s legislative achievements. On-screen text in the first ad promotes claims of enacting the “largest tax cuts in history,” “reigniting American manufacturing,” and a commitment to “defend law and order and police.” A second 60-second spot, launched Friday, features nighttime imagery of Mount Rushmore and excerpts from Trump’s July 4th weekend remarks, stating, “This is only the beginning of the Golden Age of America.”
In a Friday statement, the White House pushed back against the backlash, asserting that the announcements are not political campaigns because the president is not on the ballot and there is no call to action. The administration argued that previous presidential administrations, including those led by members of both parties, have utilized public service announcements to promote policy goals and shape the national narrative. The White House cited the Biden administration’s “We Can Do This” public health campaign and the Obama administration’s efforts to promote Obamacare enrollment as comparable examples.
“The attacks on President Donald J. Trump’s public service announcements are highly dishonest,” the White House said. “Instead, the announcements are a reminder for Americans to love their country and know why it’s worth defending — at home, at the border, and abroad. That’s not partisanship — that’s a government that still believes in the country it serves.” The statement further characterized the ads as “unapologetically American” rather than propaganda.
However, the ads have drawn sharp rebuke from legislators. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) stated on social media that the production may constitute a felony violation of the Hatch Act, which restricts certain political activities by federal employees. “The pro-Trump ad from the White House may be felony criminal theft and conversion of government property for political campaign purposes,” Raskin wrote, adding that any government employees involved in creating or utilizing government resources for the ad were also in violation.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) described the ads as “inappropriate” and compared the use of taxpayer funds for what he viewed as political campaigning to the tactics of Viktor Orbán, the former prime minister of Hungary, according to The Hill.
The musical backdrop for the “communist country” advertisement, Love Me by JMSN, has also become a point of contention. The artist, born Christian Berishaj, released a statement on X on Thursday denying that he authorized the use of his music for any political agenda. He accused the Trump campaign of illegally using the track without permission and noted that the public wrongly assumed a license had been granted. “I’ve built my career independently outside of any major system and have made it a point to not sacrifice my artistic integrity,” JMSN said, confirming he is consulting with lawyers to resolve the matter internally.
I just wish politicians focused on policy details rather than dramatic Mount Rushmore shots. What did they actually legislate?
Hatch Act violation or not, this feels less like ‘unapologetically American’ and more like electioneering to me.
Comparing Obama’s outreach to this seems like a stretch. One was public service, the other feels like pure branding.
Wait, JMSN is suing because his song was used without permission? That’s wild. Even the soundtrack is controversial.
Is patriotism really worth $443k in TV spots? The line between official business and campaigning feels dangerously thin right now.