Ads wey dey promote President Trump and im policies still dey paid for by the U.S. government well after Trump announce say MAGA Inc. super PAC go take over funding. Dem also keep airing despite federal judge order say make dem com down.
NPR analysis of data from AdImpact find say nearly $22 million in taxpayer dollars don spend to air the ads since the campaign start for late September. Nearly $10 million of that total spend after October 5, when the president pledge to fund it privately for one post on Truth Social.
For that post, Trump talk say, ‘The Radical Left is upset with the fact that I am taking Ads, which I consider to be a positive promotion for our Great U.S.A., and paying for them with U.S.A. money.’ He add say e decide to do the Patriotic Ads and pay for them himself and with money e raise for MAGA Inc.
Lawmakers from both sides don criticize the ads. Republicans praise the president choice to shift funding to outside super PAC. But that praise premature. Even though e give impression say policy change, the government-funded ads no stop after Trump post.
White House don repeatedly call the ads public service announcements. But lawsuit wey Common Cause and others file argue say dem dey fund the ads without congressional approval and say e violate restrictions on publicity and propaganda wey taxpayer dollars produce.
The ads — five of them in all — cover plenty pro-Trump content. One get splashy montage of photos of the president with chorus singing ‘love me’ as soundtrack. Another na exact duplicate of ad wey Trump campaign make during 2024 election cycle. Two promote military operations for Venezuela and Iran. All of them end with words ‘Paid for by the U.S. Government’ on screen.
The spots continue broadcast for several hours after federal judge wey dey oversee the lawsuit issue temporary ruling Sunday night. The judge say government ‘shall cancel or cause to be cancelled any slot, placement, reservation, or arrangement for the airing or dissemination of the challenged advertisements, including those placements for the evening of October 11, 2026.’
Pro-Trump spots still air hundreds of additional times Sunday night into wee hours of Monday morning. One White House official wey no get authorization to speak publicly tell NPR on Monday afternoon say, ‘The last PSAs paid for by the government aired yesterday evening.’ The official add say government ‘did not receive notice from the court in time to cancel the ad buys. The PSAs will be paid for by outside groups moving forward.’
White House don before talk say taxpayer funds wey dem use for ads no go dey reimbursed. White House also insist say the ads just dey promote patriotism. Dem argue say the ads no fit be campaign related because the president no dey run for office this year and dem no get anything to do with midterm elections next month. But Trump don repeatedly beg voters to vote like say he dey on ballot, and im dismal approval ratings don drag Republicans all over the country down.
One recent Reuters/Ipsos poll find say the ads no popular at all. The poll ask whether e appropriate or inappropriate to use ‘taxpayer funds to pay for election-related television ads featuring the President or members of his cabinet.’ E no even close. 86% of Americans say e inappropriate. Even 80% of Republicans say the ads inappropriate. E rare to get such bipartisan agreement on anything these days.
NPR no dey offer or accept money for coverage or interviews. Anybody wey make such offer or request no be NPR employee and no represent NPR.
Second report say the Trump administration continue to air taxpayer-funded ads promoting President Donald Trump after federal judge order say make dem halt the campaign. Then on Monday dem tell court say internal email delay cause am. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon issue temporary restraining order Sunday evening wey require administration to immediately stop airing the challenged commercials and cancel future placements while lawsuit over the ads dey proceed.
But plaintiffs tell court Monday say the ads continue running after the order take effect for 6:46 p.m. Sunday. According to AdImpact data wey dem cite for new filing, government ads air for nearly 400 television spots on programs wey begin for 7 p.m. Eastern — after Rochon order already dey force. One of the ads air for 193 spots during CBS’s 60 Minutes. Another air for 198 spots during ABC’s America’s Funniest Home Videos.
The ads continue airing Monday. As of 2:45 p.m., plaintiffs say one ad titled ‘Maduro’ don air another 20 times, one titled ‘Final Battle’ 11 times, and another titled ‘The Country He Loves’ once.
Plaintiffs never dey seek contempt sanctions yet. Instead, dem ask Rochon for status conference to determine whether administration comply with order. Dem note say commercials still running the day after government represent say ad buy no go continue.
Department of Justice acknowledge the delay for separate filing Monday. DOJ tell court say the judge email the restraining order to parties for 6:46 p.m. Sunday, but government counsel no send am to agency counsel until 7:58 p.m. Agency counsel no see the email until Monday morning.
DOJ write say, ‘The undersigned apologizes to the Court and the plaintiffs.’ DOJ say administration now dey comply with order. E tell Rochon say the $20 million Customs and Border Protection purchase order wey dey fund the ad campaign don stay. Future payments frozen. Office of Management and Budget’s $20 million funding apportionment dey hold. Outside vendor don receive instruction to stop running the commercials.
The compliance dispute come after Rochon temporarily block the taxpayer-funded campaign for lawsuit wey Common Cause and other plaintiffs bring to challenge administration use of public money for wetin dem describe as campaign-style political advertising. The court order bar government from using DHS funds to develop, distribute or air the challenged ads and require am to cancel existing placements.
Democracy Forward represent the plaintiffs for this case. Democracy Docket Founder Marc Elias na chair of Democracy Forward’s board.
