Public Citizen demands halt to taxpayer-funded Trump campaign ads

The organization’s petition to the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission alleges that at least three separate videos violate the Hatch Act and federal prohibitions against using appropriated funds for propaganda or self-aggrandizement. While broadcasters are generally barred from censoring candidate ads, the group contends they remain liable for airing content that violates clear federal statutes regarding the misuse of public money. These spots, which explicitly state they are paid for by the U.S. government, have appeared during high-profile programming, including football games and "Saturday Night Live."

Public Citizen co-president Lisa Gilbert described the administration's decision to continue airing the content as alarming, noting that the ads lack any verifiable government purpose and instead focus on boosting the president’s personal image ahead of the midterm elections. Leading Democrats in Congress have claimed the White House diverted funding originally allocated for Customs and Border Protection to cover the costs of these productions. Ethics experts warn that the ongoing use of federal resources for campaign-style messaging represents a flagrant breach of democratic norms, requiring immediate intervention from oversight agencies to prevent further abuse.