U.S. government funds television ads featuring Trump midterm messaging

The U.S. government has funded television advertisements that feature messaging aligned with President Donald Trump’s midterm campaign. The 30-second spots, which aired on Fox News and Newsmax, include claims such as “America will never be a communist country” and boast about the “largest tax cuts in history.”

While initial reports from AdImpact placed the cost at $14,000, subsequent data suggests spending has risen to $430,000 as the ads reached multiple markets. A second commercial was also reported to have aired on CBS.

Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Jamie Raskin, have characterized the ads as a violation of the Hatch Act and an unethical use of government resources for political purposes. Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles demanding the ads be removed and that federal employees involved be disciplined, stating that laws prohibit taxpayer funds from being used for “publicity or propaganda.”

Republican critics have also voiced concerns. Senator Thom Tillis described the use of taxpayer dollars for such ads as “inappropriate,” while Senator John Kennedy questioned the legality of using public money for campaign-style messaging.