From Mother Jones · Sophie Hurwitz · · 1m 40s
Your tax dollars fund Trump's love letter to himself
The White House is spending hundreds of thousands in public money on an ad that's basically a Trump campaign video.
In brief
The White House is spending hundreds of thousands in public money on an ad that's basically a Trump campaign video. The government is using taxpayer funds to air what appears to be a political campaign ad rather than a genuine public service announcement. Originally reported by Mother Jones.
Trump ad funded by your taxes
Since Wednesday, the federal government has been airing a taxpayer-funded political advertisement on Fox News and other channels promoting President Trump ahead of November's midterm elections.
The ad looks like a TikTok hype reel
The commercial is structured like a social media video, soundtracked with singer JMSN's chorus of 'Love Me' playing over images of Trump, and captioned 'Paid for by the US Government.'
“"America will never be a communist country," Trump's ad says.”
Cost ballooned to $430,000
The ad's spending jumped from $14,000 to $430,000 as it runs across network TV channels in markets nationwide, with the actual total potentially much higher depending on how networks classified it.
White House calls it patriotic education
The administration characterizes the ad as a public service announcement reminding Americans to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending at home and abroad.
“"The ad is educational and unapologetically patriotic. We should be proud of our country," a White House spokesperson wrote.”
Artist and lawmakers object
Singer JMSN has condemned the White House's use of his song, and a growing number of politicians from both parties have written strongly-worded letters objecting to the ad as a misuse of public funds.
Unlike past PSAs, this one just promotes Trump
Previous presidents ran genuine public service announcements about vaccines, fitness, and sexual assault prevention. Trump's ad announces little beyond extolling Trump himself, making it fundamentally different from its predecessors.
What it means
The government is using taxpayer funds to air what appears to be a political campaign ad rather than a genuine public service announcement.
