The White House is defending a government-funded television advertisement featuring President Donald Trump as a public service announcement, pushing back on Democratic lawmakers.
The White House is defending a government-funded television advertisement featuring President Donald Trump as a public service announcement, pushing back on Democratic lawmakers who say it improperly uses taxpayer dollars to promote the president ahead of the midterm elections.
The 30-second spot, which aired repeatedly on Fox News and Newsmax and carries the disclosure "Paid for by the U.S. Government," features images of Trump and messages including "America will never be a communist country," "Largest tax cuts in history" and "Defend law and order and police" featuring the song "Love Me" by JMSN.
It also includes a clip of UFC CEO Dana White calling Trump “the toughest, most resilient person I’ve ever met.”
Axios is reporting a growing dispute over the ad, which appeared as the White House and congressional Democrats spar over its funding and purpose.
AdImpact, a media-tracking firm, estimated the initial buy at roughly $14,000, ABC News reported.
In a White House release Friday, the administration said presidential public service announcements are not new. It described the spots as educational and patriotic, saying they are intended to remind Americans “to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending, at home, at our borders, and abroad.”
That’s not partisanship — that’s a government that still believes in the country it serves," the White House said.
A White House official said the ads are not political because Trump is not on the ballot and the spots do not include a call to action.
The White House pointed to past presidential public-service efforts, including a COVID-19 vaccination message featuring former presidents during the Biden administration.
When prior Administrations utilized the airwaves, it was called 'public education.' When this Administration promotes pride in our country, many of those same voices call it 'propaganda,'" the White House said. "Patriotism isn’t partisan. These public service announcements are unapologetically American, clearly disclosed, and aimed at the country — not a line on the ballot.
Democrats, however, argue the ad amounts to taxpayer-funded political promotion. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., has asked White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for records detailing the cost of producing and airing the spot, the source of the money and the government purpose behind it.
“The advertisement does not have a clear official government purpose,” Hassan wrote in a letter, arguing it could conflict with restrictions on using appropriated funds for propaganda intended to aid a political party or candidates.
Other Democrats in the House and Senate also called on the White House to pull the ad and disclose its costs.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., separately alleged the ad raised Hatch Act and ethics concerns.
"This may be felony criminal theft and conversion of government property for political campaign purposes," Raskin said on X. "18 U.S.C. 1641. It is a Hatch Act violation for any government employees who worked on it or used government resources to make it. It is blatantly unethical under numerous federal ethics provisions proscribing the use of government resources for political campaigns."
Federal appropriations laws generally ban agencies from using public funds for unauthorized publicity or propaganda. However, legal experts have said the question is distinct from campaign-finance law because the ad does not endorse a candidate or expressly urge voters to take action.
The White House has not publicly identified the agency or appropriation used to finance the advertisement.
