Taxpayer-funded Trump ads draw bipartisan criticism

Taxpayer-funded Trump ads draw bipartisan criticism

WASHINGTON: Taxpayer-funded television advertisements featuring US President Donald Trump have sparked bipartisan criticism and legal questions ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Three nationally broadcast ads end with the disclaimer “Paid for by the US Government,” prompting ethics experts and lawmakers from both Trump’s Republican Party and the Democratic Party to question whether public funds are being used for political promotion.

Critics argue that the advertisements could conflict with longstanding restrictions on government propaganda and political activity. The White House has defended the broadcasts as public service announcements aimed at promoting patriotism rather than supporting Trump’s election campaign.

The advertisements highlight themes of American exceptionalism and feature Trump delivering political messages.

In one spot, Trump says, “America will never be a communist country,” while a chorus repeatedly sings “love me” in the background. Another combines images of Mount Rushmore with footage of Trump speaking on stage as he promotes what he calls the “golden age of America.”

A third advertisement refers to a “final battle” and features Trump pledging to dismantle what he describes as the “deep state” with public support.

The third advertisement has also drawn particular attention because it closely resembles a campaign advertisement Trump used during the 2024 presidential election, apart from the government funding disclaimer.

The broadcasts come roughly five weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine the composition of Congress and could affect the balance of political power in Washington.