Trump's black-and-white campaign ad

President Trump's thirty-second ad warns against the deep state, warmongers, globalists, Marxists, communists, and fascists. It declares this is the final battle.

“this is the final battle”

The ad's unusual funding source

Trump posted the same video on Truth Social in twenty twenty-three as a campaign ad. This time it says at the bottom: paid for by the U.S. Government.

“Paid for by the U.S. Government”

Two ads aired during NFL games

The black-and-white ad aired during at least two NFL games on Sunday and cost more than three hundred sixty two thousand dollars so far.

A second ad featuring disputed music

A second ad featuring the song Love Me by J M S N aired Wednesday, costing nearly nine hundred twenty thousand dollars. Singer J M S N said he never authorized political use of his music.

“would never authorize my music to be used for ANY political agenda or campaign”

Republican senators object to spending

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said no public official should spend public money on private ads for themselves. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina called it reminiscent of Viktor Orbán's far-right Hungary.

“I don't think any public official, including President Trump or Kristi Noem or John Kennedy, should spend public money on private ads for themselves”

Democrats demand answers and action

Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire demanded details on production costs and legal basis. Congressional Democrats called the ad government propaganda and demanded it be taken off the air.

“the sort of government propaganda one might expect in North Korea, not the United States of America”

White House defends ads as public service

The White House called the ads public service announcements, not political. A spokesperson said they remind Americans to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending.

Federal law bans propaganda spending

Since the nineteen fifty s, yearly funding bills ban taxpayer funds for publicity or propaganda. The Government Accountability Office interprets this as material that is purely partisan, self-aggrandizing, or covert.

Investigations launched into potential violations

Public Citizen filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Special Counsel, seeking investigation of potential Hatch Act violations by White House employees who facilitated the ads.