From Mother Jones · Alex Nguyen · · 50s
Trump's taxpayer-funded ads face bipartisan backlash
Bipartisan critics call Trump's government-funded campaign ads illegal propaganda.
In brief
Bipartisan critics call Trump's government-funded campaign ads illegal propaganda. Trump's ads using taxpayer money are deemed illegal propaganda by both parties. Originally reported by Mother Jones.
Trump's ad airs
President Trump aired a taxpayer-funded ad during NFL games on September 27, 2026.
“We will throw off the sick political class that hates our country”
Bipartisan pushback
Republicans and Democrats criticize the ad as illegal government propaganda.
“Don't worry using taxpayer dollars to run ominous campaign ads of the President has been done before and is completely legal in banana republics”
Ad changes logo
Trump's ad now shows 'Paid for by the US government' instead of campaign logo.
“Paid for by the US government”
Lawyer's warning
Sen. Thom Tillis compared the ad to Viktor Orbán's tactics.
“It's not like they need a GoFundMe page to have the dollars to do that sort of ad and they could do it”
Democrats demand action
Congressional Democrats wrote a letter demanding the ad be taken off air.
“We write to demand that you immediately take this ad off the air and discipline the Federal employees who knowingly violated Federal law in working on and paying for this advertisement”
White House response
White House calls ads 'public service announcements' not campaign ads.
“Trump's supposed PSA says and does very little beyond extolling Trump”
The bottom line
Trump's ads using taxpayer money are deemed illegal propaganda by both parties.
